20712 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 18, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

claim form that the swine covered are,

or are not, subject to any mortgage as

defined in this part. If the owner states

there is a mortgage, the owner and each

person holding a mortgage on the swine

must sign, consenting to the payment of

indemnity to the person specified on the

form.

(Approved by the Office of Management and

Budget under control number 0579–0137)

§ 52.5 Report of net salvage proceeds.

A report of the amount for net salvage

derived from the sale of each animal for

which a claim for indemnity is made

under § 52.2(a) must be made on a

salvage form that shows the gross

receipts, expenses if any, and net

proceeds. The original or a copy of the

salvage form must be furnished by the

owner to the veterinarian in charge.

(Approved by the Office of Management and

Budget under control number 0579–0151)

Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of

April 2000.

Bobby R. Acord,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 00–9668 Filed 4–17–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–U

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 00–031–1]

Change in Disease Status of Japan

Because of Rinderpest and Foot-andMouth Disease

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: We are amending the

regulations governing the importation of

certain animals, meat, and other animal

products by removing Japan from the

list of regions declared free of rinderpest

and foot-and-mouth disease. We are

taking this action because the existence

of foot-and-mouth disease has been

confirmed there. The effect of this

action is to prohibit or restrict the

importation into the United States from

Japan of any ruminant or swine, or any

fresh, chilled, or frozen meat of any

ruminant or swine. We are taking this

action as an emergency measure to

protect the livestock of the United States

from foot-and-mouth disease.

DATES: This interim rule was effective

March 8, 2000. We invite you to

comment on this docket. We will

consider all comments that we receive

by June 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment

and three copies to: Docket No. 00–031–

1, Regulatory Analysis and

Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03,

4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale,

MD 20737–1238. Please state that your

comment refers to Docket No. 00–031–

1.

You may read any comments that we

receive on this docket in our reading

room. The reading room 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) 690–2817

before coming.

APHIS documents published in the

Federal Register, and related

information, including the names of

organizations and individuals who have

commented on APHIS dockets, are

available on the Internet at http://

www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/

webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff Veterinarian,

National Center for Import & Export, VS,

APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 734–

3276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The regulations in 9 CFR part 94

(referred to below as the regulations)

govern the importation of certain

animals and animal products into the

United States in order to prevent the

introduction of various animal diseases,

including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth

disease, African swine fever, hog

cholera, and swine vesicular disease.

These are dangerous and destructive

communicable diseases of ruminants

and swine. Section 94.1 of the

regulations lists regions of the world

that are declared free of rinderpest or

free of both rinderpest and foot-andmouth disease (FMD). Rinderpest or

FMD exists in all other regions of the

world not listed. Section 94.11 of the

regulations lists regions of the world

that have been determined to be free of

rinderpest and FMD, but are subject to

certain restrictions because of their

proximity to or trading relationships

with FMD-affected regions.

Prior to the effective date of this

interim rule, Japan was listed among

those countries considered free of

rinderpest and FMD. However, on

March 8, 2000, a suspected outbreak of

FMD was detected. And on March 27,

2000, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture

notified us with confirmation of the

FMD diagnosis. Therefore, to protect the

livestock of the United States from

FMD, we are amending the regulations

in § 94.1 by removing Japan from the list

of regions that have been declared free

of rinderpest and FMD. We are also

removing Japan from the list of

countries in § 94.11 that are declared to

be free of these diseases, but that are

subject to certain restrictions because of

their proximity to or trading

relationships with FMD-affected

regions. As a result of this action, the

importation into the United States of

any ruminant or swine or any fresh

(chilled or frozen) meat of any ruminant

or swine that left Japan on or after

March 8, 2000, is prohibited or

restricted.

Emergency Action

The Administrator of the Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service has

determined that an emergency exists

that warrants publication of this interim

rule without prior opportunity for

public comment. Immediate action is

necessary to prevent the introduction of

FMD into the United States.

Because prior notice and other public

procedures with respect to this action

are impracticable and contrary to the

public interest under these conditions,

we find good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553

to make this action effective less than 30

days after publication. We will consider

comments that are received within 60

days of publication of this rule in the

Federal Register. After the comment

period closes, we will publish another

document in the Federal Register. The

document will include a discussion of

any comments we receive and any

amendments we are making to the rule

as a result of the comments.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory

Flexibility Act

This rule has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12866. For this action,

the Office of Management and Budget

has waived its review process required

by Executive Order 12866.

This interim rule amends the

regulations governing the importation of

certain animals, meat, and other animal

products by removing Japan from the

list of regions declared free of rinderpest

and FMD. We are taking this action

because Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture

has reported an outbreak of FMD in that

country. This action prohibits or

restricts the importation into the United

States of any ruminant or swine, or any

fresh (chilled or frozen) meat of any

ruminant or swine that left Japan on or

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 18, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 20713

after March 8, 2000. This action is

necessary to protect the livestock of the

United States from FMD.

This emergency situation makes

timely compliance with section 604 of

the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.

601 et seq.) impracticable. We are

currently assessing the potential

economic effects of this action on small

entities. Based on that assessment, we

will either certify that the rule will not

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities or

publish a final regulatory flexibility

analysis.

Executive Order 12988

This rule has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice

Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State

and local laws and regulations that are

inconsistent with this rule; (2) has

retroactive effect to March 8, 2000; and

(3) does not require administrative

proceedings before parties may file suit

in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This interim rule contains no

information collection or recordkeeping

requirements under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.).

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94

Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock,

Meat and meat products, Milk, Poultry

and poultry products, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR

part 94 as follows:

PART 94 RINDERFEST, FOOT-ANDMOUTH DISEASE, FOWL PEST (FOWL

PLAGUE), EXOTIC NEWCASTLE

DISEASE, AFRICAN SWINE FEVER,

HOG CHOLERA, AND BOVINE

SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY:

PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED

IMPORTATIONS

1. The authority citation for part 94

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150ee, 161, 162,

and 450; 19 U.S.C. 1306, 21 U.S.C. 111, 114a,

134a, 134b, 134c, 134f, 136, and 136a; 31

U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 4331 and 4332; 7 CFR

2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

§ 94.1 [Amended]

2. In § 94.1, paragraph (a)(2) is

amended by removing the word

‘‘Japan,’’.

§ 94.11 [Amended]

3. In § 94.11, paragraph (a), the first

sentence is amended by removing the

word ‘‘Japan,’’.

Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of

April 2000 .

Bobby R. Acord,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 00–9667 Filed 4–17–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 00–033–1]

Change in Disease Status of the

Republic of Korea Because of

Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth

Disease

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: We are amending the

regulations governing the importation of

certain animals, meat, and other animal

products by removing the Republic of

Korea from the list of regions declared

free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth

disease. We are taking this action

because the existence of foot-and-mouth

disease has been confirmed there. The

effect of this action is to prohibit or

restrict the importation into the United

States from the Republic of Korea of any

ruminant or swine, or any fresh (chilled

or frozen) meat of any ruminant or

swine. We are taking this action as an

emergency measure to protect the

livestock of the United States from footand-mouth disease.

DATES: This interim rule was effective

March 20, 2000. We invite you to

comment on this docket. We will

consider all comments that we receive

by June 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment

and three copies to: Docket No. 00–033–

1, Regulatory Analysis and

Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03,

4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale,

MD 20737–1238.

Please state that your comment refers

to Docket No. 00–033–1.

You may read any comments that we

receive on this docket in our reading

room. The reading room 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) 690–2817

before coming.

APHIS documents published in the

Federal Register, and related

information, including the names of

organizations and individuals who have

commented on APHIS dockets, are

available on the Internet at http://

www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/

webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff Veterinarian,

National Center for Import & Export, VS,

APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 734–

3276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The regulations in 9 CFR part 94

(referred to below as the regulations)

govern the importation of certain

animals and animal products into the

United States in order to prevent the

introduction of various animal diseases,

including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth

disease, African swine fever, hog

cholera, and swine vesicular disease.

These are dangerous and destructive

communicable diseases of ruminants

and swine. Section 94.1 of the

regulations lists regions of the world

that are declared free of rinderpest or

free of both rinderpest and foot-andmouth disease (FMD). Rinderpest or

FMD exists in all other regions of the

world not listed. Section 94.11 of the

regulations lists regions of the world

that have been determined to be free of

rinderpest and FMD, but are subject to

certain restrictions because of their

proximity to or trading relationships

with FMD-affected regions.

Prior to the effective date of this

interim rule, the Republic of Korea was

listed among those countries considered

free of rinderpest and FMD. However,

on March 20, 2000, a suspected

outbreak of FMD was detected. And on

March 28, 2000, the Republic of Korea’s

Ministry of Agriculture notified us with

confirmation of the FMD diagnosis.

Therefore, to protect the livestock of the

United States from FMD, we are

amending the regulations in § 94.1 by

removing the Republic of Korea from

the list of regions that have been

declared free of rinderpest and FMD.

We are also removing the Republic of

Korea from the list of countries in

§ 94.11 that are declared to be free of

these diseases, but that are subject to

certain restrictions because of their

proximity to or trading relationships

with FMD-affected regions. As a result

of this action, the importation into the

United States of any ruminant or swine

or any fresh (chilled or frozen) meat of