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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9028-9029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02772]

[[Page 9028]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0086]

Notice of Availability of a Swine Brucellosis and Pseudorabies 
Proposed Action Plan

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are making a proposed action plan describing a potential 
new approach to managing swine brucellosis and pseudorabies available 
for public review and comment. Swine brucellosis and pseudorabies have 
been eliminated from commercial swine herds within the United States, 
but potential sources of introduction of these diseases exist and we 
believe program modifications are necessary to address these risks. The 
proposed action plan presents our current thinking about the program 
modifications that we are considering.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0086-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2010-0086, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2010-
0086 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Troy Bigelow, National Center for 
Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, Federal Building Room 891, 210 
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309; (515) 284-4121.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Brucellosis is a contagious disease, caused by bacteria of the 
genus Brucella, that affects both animals and humans. The disease 
mainly affects cattle, bison, and swine. Swine brucellosis, caused by 
Brucella suis, causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or 
birth of weak offspring, reduced lactation, and infertility. There is 
no economically feasible treatment for brucellosis in swine and other 
livestock. In humans, brucellosis initially causes flu-like symptoms, 
but the disease may develop into a variety of chronic conditions, 
including arthritis. Humans can be treated for brucellosis with 
antibiotics.
    Pseudorabies is a contagious, communicable disease of livestock, 
primarily swine, and other animals. The disease, also known as 
Aujeszky's disease, is caused by a herpes virus. The disease does not 
affect humans, and, for livestock, several pseudorabies vaccines exist.
    The regulations contained in 9 CFR part 78 (referred to below as 
the swine brucellosis regulations) provide, among other things, 
conditions under which swine may be considered reactors for or exposed 
to swine brucellosis, and conditions under which the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) would validate a herd or State as 
free of the disease. The swine brucellosis regulations also specify 
requirements for the interstate movement of breeding swine. These 
requirements are predicated on whether the swine originate from a herd 
or a State validated by APHIS as free of swine brucellosis, and, if 
not, whether the swine are brucellosis reactors or brucellosis exposed.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 85 (referred to below as the 
pseudorabies regulations) provide, among other things, conditions under 
which swine may be considered infected with or exposed to pseudorabies. 
The pseudorabies regulations also contain requirements for the 
interstate movement of swine that are known to be infected with or 
exposed to pseudorabies, requirements for the interstate movement of 
swine vaccinated for pseudorabies but not known to be infected with or 
exposed to the disease, and requirements for the interstate movement of 
all other swine. The regulations presuppose widespread testing of 
commercial swine for pseudorabies.
    The swine brucellosis and pseudorabies regulations are intended to 
prevent the spread of swine brucellosis and pseudorabies through the 
interstate movement of diseased or exposed swine or through their 
contact with unaffected swine during or following movement from their 
premises of origin. APHIS established the swine brucellosis and 
pseudorabies regulations when the diseases were prevalent in the 
commercial swine herd within the United States.
    This is no longer the case; both swine brucellosis and pseudorabies 
have been eliminated from commercial herds within the United States. As 
a result, in recent years, our swine brucellosis and pseudorabies 
program activities have placed an increased emphasis on monitoring the 
risk that these diseases will be introduced into swine herds.
    These monitoring activities have identified feral swine as 
reservoirs of the two diseases. In recent years, APHIS has identified 
several swine herds throughout the United States that were infected 
with swine brucellosis or pseudorabies. In each case, it was determined 
that the swine became infected through contact with feral swine at 
their premises.
    Feral swine populations are known to exist in at least 38 States. 
While the exact distribution and density of each population is unknown, 
the populations are believed to be growing. In each State in which 
feral swine are known to exist, APHIS considers the commercial swine 
within the State at risk of becoming exposed to or infected with swine 
brucellosis or pseudorabies. APHIS considers States or Tribes that 
border or obtain swine from States with feral swine populations to face 
similar, but lower, risks. The current swine brucellosis and 
pseudorabies regulations do not account for these risks.
    Accordingly, in this document, APHIS announces the availability of 
a proposed action plan for a new approach for the swine brucellosis and 
pseudorabies programs. The proposal, titled ``A New Approach for 
Managing Swine Brucellosis and Swine Pseudorabies Virus: Veterinary 
Services' Proposed Action Plan,'' may be viewed on the Regulations.gov 
Web site or in our reading room. (A link to Regulations.gov and 
information on the location and hours of the reading room are provided 
under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice.) In 
addition, copies may be obtained by calling or writing to the 
individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The proposed 
action plan is also available on APHIS' Web site, at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/swine/.
    While commenters are invited to address any aspects of the plan in 
their comments, we specifically request comment regarding the following 
topics:
     Risk. The new approach outlined in the plan considers 
feral swine to be reservoirs of swine brucellosis and

[[Page 9029]]

pseudorabies and to present a significant risk of introducing the 
diseases into commercial swine populations. Does the plan accurately 
present the risk that feral swine pose of transmitting these diseases? 
Are there other significant potential sources of introduction that 
APHIS should consider?
     Responsibility. The plan outlines an approach in which 
States and Tribes would play a significant role in identifying and 
monitoring possible sources of introduction of pseudorabies or swine 
brucellosis into the commercial swine herd in their State or Tribe, 
with the ultimate goals of quickly identifying and responding to 
outbreaks and thereby preventing the spread of swine brucellosis or 
pseudorabies through the interstate movement of commercial swine. What 
role should a State or Tribe have for ensuring that swine moved from 
the State or Tribe do not spread these diseases? What role lies with 
APHIS, or with the commercial swine industry?
     Swine Health Plan. Would the Swine Health Plan concept 
described in the action plan be sufficient to prevent the spread of 
swine brucellosis and pseudorabies through the interstate movement of 
diseased swine? If the plan concept would be sufficient, do States and 
Tribes currently have sufficient personnel and resources to draft and 
implement such a plan? How long is it likely to take a State or Tribe 
to draft such a plan and arrange resources as specified in their plan?
     Program consolidation. The action plan considers 
consolidating the swine brucellosis and pseudorabies programs, and the 
regulations pertaining to these programs, into one domestic swine 
health program. Does such a consolidation make sense? If not, how would 
the two regulatory programs need to differ?
     Indemnity. The plan considers consolidating the existing 
regulations governing indemnity paid for swine destroyed because they 
are known to be infected with swine brucellosis with those governing 
indemnity paid for swine destroyed because they are known to be 
infected with pseudorabies, as well as streamlining certain provisions 
of the regulations. Does such a consolidation make sense?
    We will consider all comments that we receive as we continue to 
explore potential new approaches to managing swine brucellosis and 
pseudorabies.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 4th day of February 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02772 Filed 2-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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