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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 251 (Tuesday, December 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 79658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31194]

[[Page 79658]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0044]

Environmental Impact Statement; Animal Carcass Management

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
and proposed scope of study; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period for our notice of intent 
to prepare an environmental impact statement to examine the potential 
environmental effects of animal carcass management options used 
throughout the United States. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0044-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0044, 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-2013-
0044 or in our reading room, located in Room 1141 of the USDA South 
Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. 
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) 7997039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to the carcass 
management program, contact Ms. Lori P. Miller, PE, Senior Staff 
Officer, National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3512. 
For questions related to the environmental impact statement, contact 
Ms. Samantha Floyd, Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental 
and Risk Analysis Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 149, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3053.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 25, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
published in the Federal Register (78 FR 63959-63960, Docket No. APHIS-
2013-0044) a notice \1\ stating our intent to prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) to examine the potential environmental effects 
of animal carcass management options used throughout the United States. 
The EIS will analyze and compare all major and readily available mass 
carcass management options that may be utilized during an animal health 
emergency.
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    \1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comments 
we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0044.
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    Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before 
November 25, 2013. We are reopening the comment period on Docket No. 
APHIS-2013-0044 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow 
interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We 
will also consider all comments received between November 26, 2013 and 
the date of this notice.
    All comments received during the scoping period will be carefully 
considered in developing the final scope of the EIS. Upon completion of 
the draft EIS, a notice announcing its availability and an opportunity 
to comment on it will be published in the Federal Register.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 8301-8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of December 2013 .
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-31194 Filed 12-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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