This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

76606

Vol. 65, No. 236

Thursday, December 7, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Docket No. 00–045–1]

Office of the Secretary; Declaration of

Emergency Because of Rabies

Wildlife is the dominant reservoir for

rabies in the United States. Rabies

transmission from wildlife carnivores

poses a serious threat to animal and

human health in the United States.

Rabid raccoons, foxes, and coyotes

attack large farm animals not normally

considered prey, such as cattle. Larger

farm animals often survive these attacks

and become infected with rabies.

Humans who work in close contact with

infected livestock, as well as other

animals that come in contact with such

livestock, are at risk of exposure to

rabies. In addition, the agricultural

environment often provides food and

refuge that are attractions for wildlife

that may in turn directly place farmers,

ranchers, their families, and other

people in rural communities at risk of

exposure to rabies.

If new rabies strains such as those

transmitted by raccoons, gray foxes, and

coyotes are not prevented from

spreading to broader areas of the United

States, the health threats and costs

associated with rabies are expected to

increase substantially. In the area that

stretches west from the leading edge of

the current distribution of raccoon

rabies (which stretches from Alabama

northeastward along the western edge of

the Appalachian Mountains to Maine) to

the Rocky Mountains, and north from

the distribution of gray fox and coyote

rabies in Texas, there are more than 111

million livestock animals—including

cattle, horses, mules, swine, goats, and

sheep—valued at $42 billion. If raccoon,

gray fox, or coyote rabies were to spread

into the above described area, the

livestock there would be at risk to these

specific rabies variants. Additionally,

raccoon, coyote, and fox rabies-related

costs for human health care, education,

vaccination, and animal control in the

United States currently exceed $450

million annually. These costs are

expected to increase substantially if

rabies is allowed to spread into the

described area.

In recent years, the Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and

the States affected by rabies have been

working cooperatively to address rabies

outbreaks by implementing an oral

rabies vaccination program (ORVP),

which establishes and maintains

immunization barriers to control the

disease within the outbreak zone and

prevent its spread to new areas. APHIS

contributed $1.3 million in FY 1998 and

$1.5 million in FY 1999 and FY 2000

toward these rabies control efforts.

While vaccination barriers have been

established, reduced State funding in

Texas and rapid expansion of raccoon

rabies in the northeastern and

midwestern portions of the United

States threaten to compromise the

established ORVP barriers.

The Texas ORVP

Since the program’s inception in

1995, the Texas ORVP has been

successful in controlling the outbreak of

rabies in coyotes, but the rabies

outbreak in gray foxes presents a more

complex challenge. The objective of the

gray fox program has been to encircle

the outbreak with a barrier of vaccinated

foxes and then move inward, reducing

the geographic distribution of fox rabies

within the outbreak zone. So far, the

program has been successful in halting

the spread of the disease. No rabies

cases have developed in gray foxes

beyond the established ORVP barrier.

However, these program gains and any

potential advances are in jeopardy. Due

to reduced State funding levels this

year, the State of Texas is unable to

maintain the entire ORVP barrier for

gray foxes. The State has enough funds

to maintain only the eastern side of the

ORVP barrier. This limitation

compromises the health and safety of

livestock, other animals, and humans.

Reestablishing the entire ORVP barrier

for gray foxes and continuing to

eliminate rabies within the outbreak

zone are critical.

The Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West

Virginia ORVP

Since 1998, APHIS and the State of

Ohio have been working cooperatively

to establish a vaccination barrier against

raccoon rabies on the State’s eastern

border. The current Ohio barrier extends

from Lake Erie to East Liverpool and

was strategically placed to halt the

westward spread of raccoon rabies. A

recent case of raccoon rabies on the

West Virginia side of the Ohio River,

however, suggests that the current

barrier is inadequate and should be

expanded. APHIS and State officials

have determined that an effective barrier

would require widening the existing

barrier and extending it south to meet

the Appalachian Ridge in West Virginia,

where the mountainous habitat can also

act as a geographical barrier to prevent

the spread of rabies. By bridging the gap

between the current Ohio barrier and

the Appalachian Mountains, the

program will reduce the risk of the

disease entering the midwestern region

of the United States, where it would

increasingly threaten livestock, human

populations, and other animals, and

significantly raise the control costs

throughout the region.

The Northeastern United States and

Canadian Border ORVP

APHIS has also been working with the

Departments of Health in Vermont and

New York, several New York counties,

Cornell University, and the Canadian

Provinces of Quebec and Ontario to

establish a rabies vaccination barrier

along the U.S.-Canadian border. The

northern border ORVP zone currently

extends from Niagara Frontier in

western New York to the St. Lawrence

River, through the upper Lake

Champlain Valley, and terminates in

northern central Vermont. A gap in the

barrier needs to be filled from its eastern

point to the Connecticut River Valley in

eastern Vermont and New Hampshire.

APHIS and its cooperators have an

opportunity to contain the movement of

the disease by bridging the gaps in the

barriers before the currently vaccinated

area is compromised. This area is

particularly susceptible due to the

abundant raccoon populations present

along the river systems. The further

north and west the disease moves, the

more likely it is that livestock, humans,

and other animals will become exposed

to infected wildlife. Vaccinating in these

new corridors and adding sufficient

width to existing barriers are critical to

containing the northward spread of

raccoon rabies.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 236 / Thursday, December 7, 2000 / Notices 76607

So far, Ohio, Texas, and New York

have provided the majority of funds for

the cooperative programs. Pennsylvania

and West Virginia do not have the

resources to contribute to this effort or

to conduct independent rabies control

programs. The total amount of funding

needed in FY 2000 to begin

reestablishing an adequate ORVP in

Texas and expanding existing ORVP’s in

the northeastern region of the United

States and in Ohio is estimated to be

$4.1 million ($0.4 million in New York,

$0.3 million in Ohio, $1.5 million in

Pennsylvania and West Virginia, $1.7

million in Texas, and $0.2 million in

Vermont).

APHIS has insufficient funds to

expand the ORVP in New York, Ohio,

Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, and

West Virginia. With additional funds,

APHIS can continue the ORVP in these

States, which is necessary to prevent the

spread of rabies.

Therefore, in accordance with the

provisions of the Act of September 25,

1981, as amended (7 U.S.C. 147b), I

declare that there is an emergency that

threatens the agricultural production

industry in the United States, and I

authorize the transfer and use of $4.1

million from the Commodity Credit

Corporation of the United States

Department of Agriculture for the

continuation of the ORVP.

Effective Date: This declaration of

emergency shall become effective November

3, 2000.

Dan Glickman,

Secretary of Agriculture.

[FR Doc. 00–31146 Filed 12–6–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–U

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 001127332–0332–01]

RIN Number 0607–XX60

Annual Surveys in the Manufacturing

Area

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census,

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census

(Census Bureau) is conducting the 2000

Annual Surveys in the Manufacturing

Area. The 2000 Annual Surveys consist

of the Current Industrial Reports

surveys, the Annual Survey of

Manufactures, the Survey of Industrial

Research and Development, and the

Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization. We

have determined that annual data

collected from these surveys are needed

to aid the efficient performance of

essential governmental functions and

have significant application to the needs

of the public and industry. The data

derived from these surveys, most of

which have been conducted for many

years, are not publicly available from

nongovernmental or other governmental

sources.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

William G. Bostic, Jr., Chief,

Manufacturing and Construction

Division, Census Bureau, on (301) 457–

4593.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Census Bureau is authorized to take

surveys necessary to furnish current

data on the subjects covered by the

major censuses authorized by Title 13,

United States Code (U.S.C.), Sections

61, 81, 182, 224, and 225. These surveys

will provide continuing and timely

national statistical data on

manufacturing for the period between

economic censuses. The next economic

censuses will be conducted for the year

2002. The data collected in these

surveys will be within the general scope

and nature of those inquiries covered in

the economic censuses.

Current Industrial Reports

Most of the following commodity or

product surveys provide data on

shipments or production, data on

stocks, unfilled orders, orders booked,

consumption, and so forth. Reports will

be required of all, or a sample of,

establishments engaged in the

production of the items covered by the

following list of surveys.

SURVEY TITLE

MA313F Yarn Production.

MA313K Knit Fabric Production.

MA314Q Carpets and Rugs.

MA315D Gloves and Mittens.

MA321T Lumber Production and Mill

Stocks.

MA325F Paint and Allied Products.

MA325G Pharmaceutical Preparations, except Biologicals.

MA316A Footwear Production.

MA327C Refractories.

MA327E Consumer, Scientific, Technical,

and Industrial Glassware.

MA331A Iron and Steel Castings.

MA331B Steel Mill Products.

MA331E Nonferrous Castings.

MA335J Insulated Wire and Cable.

MA333A Farm Machinery and Lawn and

Garden Equipment.

MA333D Construction Machinery.

MA333F Mining Machinery and Mineral

Processing Equipment.

MA333L Internal Combustion Engines.

MA333M Refrigeration, Air-conditioning,

and Warm Air Equipment.

MA333P Pumps and Compressors.

SURVEY TITLE—Continued

MA333U Vending Machines (Coin-Operated).

MA332Q Antifriction Bearings.

MA334R Computers and Office and Accounting Machines.

MA335A Switchgear, Switchboard Apparatus, Relays, and Industrial

Controls.

MA335E Electric Housewares and Fans.

MA335F Major Household Appliances.

MA335H Motors and Generators.

MA335K Wiring Devices and Supplies.

MA334M Consumer Electronics.

MA334P Communication Equipment.

MA334Q Semiconductors, Printed Circuit

Boards, and Electronic Components.

MA334B Selected Instruments and Related

Products.

MA334S electromedical and Irradiation

Equipment.

The following list of surveys represent

annual counterparts of monthly and

quarterly surveys and will cover only

those establishments that are not

canvassed, or do not report, in the more

frequent surveys. Accordingly, there

will be no duplication in reporting. The

content of these annual reports will be

identical with that of the monthly and

quarterly reports.

SURVEY TITLE

M311H ......... Animal and Vegetable Fats

and Oils (Stocks).

M311J ......... Oilseeds, Beans, and Nuts

(Primary Producers).

M311L ......... Fats and Oils; (Renderers).

M311M ........ Animal and Vegetables Fats

and Oils (Consumption and

Stocks).

M311N ......... Animal and Vegetables Fats

and Oils (Production, Consumption, and Stock).

M313P ......... Consumption on the Cotton

System.

M327G ........ Glass Containers.

M331J ......... Inventories of Steel Producing

Mills.

M336G ........ Civil Aircraft and Aircraft Engines.

M336L ......... Truck Trailers.

MQ311A ...... Flour Milling Products.

MQ313D ...... Consumption on the Woolen

System and Worsted Combing.

MQ313T ...... Broadwoven Fabrics (Gray).

MQ315A ...... Apparel.

MQ314X ...... Bed and Bath Furnishings.

MQ325A ...... Inorganic Chemicals.

MQ325B ...... Fertilizer Materials.

MQ325C ...... Industrial Gases.

MQ327D ...... Clay Construction Products.

MQ332E ...... Plumbing Fixtures.

MQ333W ..... Metalworking Machinery.

MQ335C ...... Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts.

Annual Survey of Manufactures

The Annual Survey of Manufactures

collects industry statistics, such as total