29682 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

16. Section 299.5 is amended in the

table by:

a. Adding the entry for Form ‘‘I–485

Supplement D’’ in proper numerical

sequence; and by

b. Revising the entry for Form ‘‘I–

817’’, to read as follows:

§ 299.5 Display of control numbers.

* * * * *

INS form No. INS form title

Currently assigned OMB

control No.

*******

I–485 Supplement D ................................................................... LIFE Legalization Supplement to Form I–485 Instructions ....... 1115–0239

*******

I–817 ............................................................................................ Application for Family Unity Benefits ......................................... 1115–0166

*******

Dated: May 25, 2001.

John Ashcroft,

Attorney General.

[FR Doc. 01–13669 Filed 5–31–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

8 CFR Parts 103 and 299

[INS No. 2108–01]

RIN 1115–AG03

Establishing Premium Processing

Service for Employment-Based

Petitions and Applications

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization

Service, Justice.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This rule amends the

Immigration and Naturalization Service

(Service) regulations by establishing a

Premium Processing Service for certain

employment-based petitions and

applications. If an entity pays the

required fee for Premium Processing

Service, the Service will process the

petition or application within 15

calendar days. Premium Processing

Service will provide American

businesses with the opportunity to

obtain faster processing of petitions and

applications to meet their needs for

foreign workers.

DATES: Effective date: This interim rule

is effective June 1, 2001.

Comment date: Written comments

must be submitted on or before July 31,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written

comments to the Director, Policy

Directives and Instructions Branch,

Immigration and Naturalization Service,

425 I Street, NW., Room 4034,

Washington, DC 20536, or via fax to

(202) 305–0143. To ensure proper

handling, please reference INS No.

2108–01 on your correspondence.

Comments are available for public

inspection at the above address by

calling (202) 514–3048 to arrange for an

appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tracy Renaud, Adjudications Officer,

Immigration Services Division,

Immigration and Naturalization Service,

800 K Street, NW., 10th Floor,

Washington, DC 20536, telephone (202)

305–8010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

What Is the Authority To Charge a

Premium Processing Fee?

On December 21, 2000, the President

signed the District of Columbia

Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law

106–553, 114 Stat. 2762 (2000). The

legislation added a new section 286(u)

to the Immigration and Nationality Act

(Act) that authorizes the Attorney

General to collect a $1,000 ‘‘premium

processing’’ fee in addition to the

regular filing fee that must be paid for

the filing with the Service of certain

petitions and applications. Under this

new legislation, the authority to collect

the premium processing fee applies only

to employment-based petitions and

applications.

Why Have Premium Processing Service?

The Premium Processing Service will

enable the Service to improve its

services to its business customers. These

businesses must sometimes recruit and

hire foreign workers to fill jobs in short

time frames. The Service’s current

processing times for employment-based

petitions and applications may not

accommodate the needs of these

businesses. The Premium Processing

Service will give American businesses

an option to pay for faster processing of

petitions and applications for foreign

workers.

What Is Premium Processing Service?

The District of Columbia

Appropriations Act of 2001, Public Law

106–553, established ‘‘premium

processing service’’ and the associated

filing fee. It also specified that the

Service was required to process

applications under the Premium

Processing Service in 15 calendar days.

However, the legislation did not

explicitly define what ‘‘premium

processing service’’ means. Therefore,

the Service is using its authority under

section 103(a) of the Act to establish the

details of this new service.

For example, if the applicant or

petitioner pays for Premium Processing

Service of a petition or application, the

Service will issue an approval notice,

notice of intent to deny, request for

evidence, or notice of an investigation

for fraud or misrepresentation within 15

calendar days. Premium Processing

Service begins on the day the Service

physically receives a petition or

application and ends on the day the

Service issues a notice or request. If the

Service does not issue a notice or

request within 15 calendar days, the

Service will refund the fee

automatically. However, when the

Service fails to issue a notice or request

within 15 calendar days and refunds the

fee, the Service will still expeditiously

process the case. If the application or

petition in question was not eligible for

Premium Processing Service, the fee

will be refunded and the Service will

continue to process the case normally.

What Are the Benefits of the Premium

Processing Service?

The Premium Processing Service

provides a benefit to all entities that file

applications and petitions with the

Service, and not just to those employers

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2001 / Rules and Regulations 29683

who are granted Premium Processing

Service. The fee revenue generated by

Premium Processing Service will be

deposited into the Immigration

Examinations Fee Account and used by

the Service to hire additional

adjudicators, contact representatives,

and support personnel to provide

service to all its customers. The fee will

also be used for infrastructure

improvements.

What Is the Fee for the Premium

Processing Service?

The fee for Premium Processing

Service is $1,000 in addition to the

filing fee for the petition or application.

As an example, H–2B cases are eligible

for Premium Processing Service. There

are two fees involved: The Form I–129,

Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker,

filing fee of $110 and the $1,000

Premium Processing fee.

Can the Fee for Premium Processing

Service Be Waived?

The fee for Premium Processing

Service is set by law and cannot be

waived for any reason. However, the

Service will refund the fee if it cannot

complete its adjudication within 15

calendar days or if Premium Processing

for a particular application or petition

has been suspended.

The Service will continue its existing

policy and procedures for requesting

expeditious processing, without any

additional fee, of petitions that are filed

by petitioners designated as non-profit

by the Internal Revenue Service and for

petitions and applications that are not

designated for Premium Processing

Service.

How Do I Request Premium Processing

Service?

You may request Premium Processing

Service by filing a completed Form I–

907, Request for Premium Processing

Service, with the petition or application

and paying the Premium Fee. You must

pay the Premium Fee with a separate

check or money order in the amount of

$1,000. This check is in addition to the

check for the regular filing fee for the

application or petition.

Can I Request Premium Processing

Service for a Pending Petition or

Application?

Yes, if you want to request Premium

Processing Service, you can file Form I–

907, Request for Premium Processing

Service, with the Premium Fee, either at

the same time as or after a petition or

application. If you file Form I–907, after

you file the related petition or

application, the 15 calendar day

processing period will begin when the

Service receives the Form I–907.

Where Should I Mail My Request for

Premium Processing?

If the Form I–907 is filed at the same

time as the related petition, submit both

forms to the designated Premium

Processing address for the INS Service

Center indicated on the petition. If the

Form I–907 is filed after the related

petition, submit it to the designated

Premium Processing Address for the

INS Service Center where the related

petition was previously filed. When

submitting a Form I–907 after a related

petition, if possible, include a copy of

the Form I–797, Notice of Action,

showing receipt of the related petition.

A designated Premium Processing

address for each of the four centers will

be published on the instruction sheet to

Form I–907. The designated address

must be used to be sure the Premium

Processing petition immediately enters

the Premium Processing unit. If an

alternate address is used, the 15

calendar day processing time will begin

when the Service initially identifies the

case as a request for Premium

Processing.

In addition, the employer must file

the Premium Processing request at the

INS Service Center designated for the

specific application or petition. The

Service has established special filing

procedures for certain applications and

petitions. For example, petitions

involving the E–1 and E–2

nonimmigrant classifications must be

filed at either the Texas or California

Service Center. Therefore, the Premium

Processing request must also be filed at

these locations. A Form I–907 filed in

connection with a petition involving the

E–1 or E–2 nonimmigrant classification

must be submitted to the designated

Premium Processing address for the

Texas or California Service Center, as

appropriate.

What if I Have a Question About My

Premium Processing petition?

Designated customer service e-mail

addresses will be provided on the

instruction sheet to Form I–907. The

Service will also provide customers

with designated phone numbers on

receipt notices for the Form I–907. The

phone numbers and e-mail addresses

will be for use by Premium Processing

customers only.

Can I Request Premium Processing

Service for any Employment-Based

Petition or Application?

The Service will designate certain

employment-based petitions or

applications for Premium Processing

Service. Absent the Premium fee, the

Service will process the petition or

application under normal procedures. If

you request Premium Processing Service

for a petition or application that has not

been designated by the Service, the

Service will return the Premium

Processing Fee and Form I–907 and

continue normal processing of the

petition or application.

How Will the Service Designate Petitions

and Applications for Premium

Processing Service?

The Service will designate petitions

and applications for Premium

Processing Service by publishing

notices in the Federal Register. These

notices will specify the form types and

the visa classifications for which

Premium Processing Service is

available. The notices will also specify

the dates on which the availability of

Premium Processing Service begins and

ends.

The Service is designating Form I–

129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker,

for Premium Processing Service

beginning on June 1, 2001.

Classifications within the Form I–129

eligible for the Premium Processing

program as of June 1, 2001 are:

(1) E–1 Treaty Trader;

(2) E–2 Treaty Investor;

(3) H–2A Agricultural Worker;

(4) H–2B Temporary Worker;

(5) H–3 Trainee;

(6) L–1 Intracompany Transferree;

(7) O–1 and O–2 Aliens of Extraordinary

Ability or Achievement;

(8) P–1, P–2, and P–3 Athletes and

Entertainers; and

(9) Q–1 International Cultural Exchange

Aliens.

Classifications within the Form I–129

eligible for the Premium Processing

program as of July 30, 2001 are:

(1) H–1B Temporary Worker with

Specialty Occupation;

(2) R–1 Temporary Worker in Religious

Occupations; and

(3) TN NAFTA Professional.

These designations will continue

until the Service publishes a notice

amending or terminating them.

What if the Beneficiary of a Premium

Processing Petition Has Dependent

Family Members Who Are Seeking

Derivative Benefits?

If the family members application(s)

is filed concurrently with the Premium

Processing petition, the Service will

process the application(s) for the family

members with the Premium Processing

petition in 15 calendar days without

requiring an additional $1,000 fee for

the family member’s application(s). This

29684 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

applies only to dependents of the

beneficiary of the Premium Processing

petition.

How Will the Service Process Requests

for Premium Processing Service of

Petitions for Nonimmigrant

Classifications Subject to Annual

Numerical Limitations?

The Service is designating Premium

Processing Service for certain

nonimmigrant classifications that are

subject to annual numerical limitations.

Like petitions filed under regular

procedures, petitions for which

Premium Processing Service is

requested will be processed in the order

of receipt. Once the annual limitation

for a nonimmigrant classification is met

(e.g., when the Service has received a

volume of H–1B petitions sufficient to

reach the annual numerical limitation),

INS will temporarily terminate Premium

Processing Service for all pending

petitions filed for entry in that fiscal

year. The Service will then process all

pending petitions (regular and premium

together) in the order of receipt.

The Service believes that temporary

termination of Premium Processing

Service is the fairest method to balance

the interest of expedited processing

while reasonably preserving the ability

of all individuals to access numerically

limited immigration programs.

The Service will announce the

temporary termination by publication of

a notice in the Federal Register. When

the Service announces temporary

termination of Premium Processing

Service for a particular nonimmigrant

classification, it will return the Form I–

907 and Premium Fee for all requests

subject to the termination.

Explanation of Changes

What Changes Is the Service Making to

the Regulations?

1. Changes in § 103.2

In § 103.2 the Service is adding a new

paragraph (f) to describe the process that

the Service will use to process requests

for Premium Processing Service.

2. Changes in § 103.7

In § 103.7, the Service is amending

the regulations to add the fee for

Premium Processing Service for certain

employment-based petitions and

applications. The fee is established at

$1,000 per petition or application

requesting Premium Processing Service.

Payment of the fee guarantees 15

calendar day processing of the petition

or application. The fee for Premium

Processing Service cannot be waived.

3. Changes in § 299.1 and § 299.5

In § 299.1 and § 299.5, the Service is

amending the regulations to add the

Form I–907, Request for Premium

Processing Service, to the listing of

forms. This form must be filed in

conjunction with a petition or

application to request Premium

Processing Service.

Good Cause Exception

This interim rule is effective on June

1, 2001, although the Service invites

post-promulgation comments and will

address any such comments in a final

rule. For the following reasons, the

Service finds that good cause exists for

adopting this rule without the prior

notice and comment period or the delay

in the effective date ordinarily required

by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and (d)(3).

Section 112 of Public Law 106–553

specifically authorizes the Attorney

General to collect a fee for employmentbased petitions and applications to be

used to provide certain Premium

Processing Services to business

customers. By delaying implementation

of this rule, these business customers

will not be able to immediately benefit

from the Premium Processing Services.

Premium Processing Services allows for

United States employers to fill key

vacancies expeditiously allowing these

employers to enhance their profitability

and productivity. The benefit will result

in certain businesses saving valuable

time in hiring foreign-workers that can

result in benefits to the entire country.

A delay in the implementation of this

statutory process would, therefore, be

contrary to the public interest.

Accordingly, the Service finds that it is

impracticable and contrary to the public

interest to publish this rule with prior

notice and comment period or a delay

in the effective date normally required

under 5 U.S.C. 553.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Commissioner of the Immigration

and Naturalization Service, in

accordance with the Regulatory

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has

reviewed this regulation and, by

approving it, certifies that this rule will

not have a significant economic impact

on a substantial number of small

entities. Although there is an additional

cost for entities (both large and small) to

obtain Premium Processing Service, the

$1,000 Premium Processing Fee is

established by statute. The Premium

Processing Service is voluntary and is

intended to expedite requests by

American businesses to hire foreign

workers.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of

1995

This rule will not result in the

expenditure by State, local and tribal

governments, in the aggregate, or by the

private sector, of $100 million or more

in any one year, and it will not

significantly or uniquely effect small

governments. Therefore, no actions were

deemed necessary under the provisions

of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement

Fairness Act of 1996

This rule is not a major rule as

defined by section 804 of the Small

Business Regulatory Enforcement

Fairness Act of 1996. This rule will not

result in an annual effect on the

economy of $100 million or more; a

major increase in costs or prices; or

significant adverse effects on

competition, employment, investment,

productivity, innovation, or on the

ability of United States-based

companies to compete with foreignbased companies in domestic and

export markets.

Executive Order 12866

This rule is considered by the

Department of Justice, Immigration and

Naturalization Service, to be a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866, section 3(f),

Regulatory Planning and Review.

Accordingly, this regulation has been

submitted to the Office of Management

and Budget for review. It is estimated

that petitioners and applicants will pay

$25 million in fiscal year 2001 for

Premium Processing Services, and $80

million in fiscal year 2002.

Executive Order 13132

This rule will not have substantial

direct effects on the States, on the

relationship between the National

Government and the States, or on the

distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various

levels of government. Therefore, in

accordance with section 6 of Executive

Order 13132, it is determined that this

rule does not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a federalism summary impact

statement.

Executive Order 12988 Civil Justice

Reform

This interim rule meets the applicable

standards set forth in sections 3(a) and

3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Paperwork Reduction Act

Since this interim rule takes effect on

June 1, 2001, and the Form I–907, is

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2001 / Rules and Regulations 29685

required by the business community to

request Premium Processing Services,

the Service is using emergency review

procedures for review and clearance by

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) in accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of

1995. The Service has requested that

OMB waive the comment period for the

emergency paperwork review. If

granted, the emergency approval is only

valid for 180 days.

A regular review of this information

collection will also be undertaken.

Written comments are encouraged and

will be accepted until July 31, 2001.

Submit comments to: Director, Policy

Directives and Instructions Branch,

Immigration and Naturalization Service,

425 I Street, NW., Room 4034,

Washington, DC 20536, or via fax to

(202) 305–0143. Your comments should

address one or more of the following

points:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of the agency, including

whether the information will have

practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information,

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including through the

use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology,

e.g., permitting electronic submission of

responses.

The Service in calculating the overall

burden this requirement will place upon

the public, estimates 80,000

applications for Premium Processing

Services will be requested annually. The

Service estimated that it will take

approximately .25 hours to comply with

the requirements of Form I–907. This

amounts to 20,000 total burden hours.

Organizations and individuals

interested in submitting comments

regarding this burden estimate or any

aspect of these information collection

requirements, including suggestions for

reducing the burden, should direct them

to the Immigration and Naturalization

Service, Policy Directives and

Instructions Branch, 425 I Street, NW.,

Suite 4034, Washington, DC 20536;

Attention: Richard A. Sloan, Director,

(202) 514–3048.

List of Subjects

8 CFR Part 103

Administrative practice and

procedure, Authority delegations

(Government agencies), Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

8 CFR Part 299

Immigration, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

Accordingly, chapter I of title 8 of the

Code of Federal Regulations is amended

as follows:

PART 103—POWERS AND DUTIES OF

SERVICE OFFICERS; AVAILABILITY

OF SERVICE RECORDS

1. The authority citation for part 103

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 552a; 8 U.S.C.

1101, 1103, 1201, 1252, 1252 note, 1252b,

1304, 1356; 31 U.S.C. 9701; E.O. 12356, 47

FR 14874, 15557, 3 CFR, 1982 Comp., p. 166;

8 CFR part 2.

2. Section 103.2 is amended by

adding a new paragraph (f) to read as

follows:

§ 103.2 Applications, petitions, and other

documents.

* * * * *

(f) Requests for Premium Processing

Service.—(1) Filing information. A

petitioner or applicant requesting

Premium Processing Service shall

submit Form I–907, with the

appropriate fee to the Director of the

service center having jurisdiction over

the application or petition. Premium

Processing Service guarantees 15

calendar day processing of certain

employment-based petitions and

applications. The 15 calendar day

processing period begins when the

Service receives Form I–907, with fee, at

the designated address contained in the

instructions to the form. The Service

will refund the fee for Premium

Processing Service, but continue to

process the case, unless within 15

calendar days of receiving the

application or petition and Form I–907,

issues and serves on the petitioner or

applicant an approval notice, a notice of

intent to deny, a request for evidence, or

opens an investigation relating to the

application or petition for fraud or

misrepresentation.

(2) Applications and petitions eligible

for Premium Processing Service. The

Service will designate and terminate

petitions and applications as eligible for

Premium Processing Service by

publication of notices in the Federal

Register.

(3) Fees for Premium Processing

Services. The fee for Premium

Processing Service may not be waived.

The fee for Premium Processing Service

is in addition to all other filing fees for

the application or petition as provided

for in § 103.7. A separate remittance

must be submitted for the filing fee for

Form I–907. If the Service fails to

process a petition or application with

the 15 calendar day period, the fee for

Premium Processing Services will be

automatically refunded to the petitioner

or applicant, and the Service will

continue to process the application/

petition on the premium processing

track.

(4) Temporary termination of

Premium Processing Service. The

Service may designate as eligible for

Premium Processing Service certain

petitions or applications filed on behalf

of nonimmigrant aliens that are subject

to annual numerical limitations. In

order to ensure equitable access to these

limited visa programs, the Service may

temporarily terminate the availability of

Premium Processing Service for certain

petitions or applications. The Service

will announce a temporary termination

by publication of a notice in the Federal

Register. Upon temporary termination

of a classification the petition or

application will not be rejected. Instead,

the petition or application will be

moved into the pool of normal

processing cases and only the Form I–

907 will be rejected and the Fee for

Form I–907 will be returned to the

applicant or petitioner.

* * * * *

3. Section 103.7 is amended by:

a. Amending paragraph (b)(1) by

adding the entry ‘‘Form I–907’’ in

proper alpha-numerical sequence to the

listing of fees; and

b. Revising paragraph (c)(1).

The addition and revision read as

follows:

§ 103.7 Fees.

* * * * *

(b) * * * (1) * * *

* * * * *

Form I–907. For filing a request for

Premium Processing Service for certain

employment based applications and

petitions-$1,000. The fee for Premium

Processing Service may not be waived.

* * * * *

(c)(1) Except as otherwise provided in

this paragraph (c) and in § 3.3(b) of this

chapter, any of the fees prescribed in

paragraph (b) of this section relating to

applications, petitions, appeals,

motions, or requests may be waived by

the Immigration Judge in any case under

his/her jurisdiction in which the alien

or other party affected is able to

substantiate that he or she is unable to

29686 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

pay the prescribed fee. The person

seeking a fee waiver must file his or her

affidavit, or unsworn declaration made

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, asking for

permission to prosecute without

payment of fee of the application,

petition, appeal, motion, or request, and

stating his or her belief that he or she

is entitled to or deserving of the benefit

requested and the reasons for his or her

inability to pay. The officer of the

Service having jurisdiction to render a

decision on the application, petition,

appeal, motion, or request may, in his

discretion, grant the waiver of fee. Fees

for ‘‘Passenger Travel Reports via Sea

and Air’’ and for special statistical

tabulations may not be waived. The

payment of the additional sum

prescribed by section 245(i) of the Act

when applying for adjustment of status

under section 245 of the Act may not be

waived. The payment of the additional

$500 fee prescribed by section 214(c)(9)

of the Act when applying for petition for

nonimmigrant worker under section

101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Act may not be

waived. The fee for Form I–907, Request

for Premium Processing Services, may

not be waived.

* * * * *

PART 299—IMMIGRATION FORMS

4. The authority citation for part 299

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103; 8 CFR part

2.

5. Section 299.1 is amended in the

table by adding the entry for Form I–

907, in proper alpha-numerical

sequence, to read as follows:

§ 299.1 Prescribed forms.

* * * * *

Form No. Edition date Title

*******

I–907 ............................................................................................................... 05–16–01 Request for Premium Processing Services.

*******

6. Section 299.5 is amended in the table by adding the entry for Form ‘‘I–907’’, in proper alpha-numerical sequences,

to read as follows:

§ 299.5 Display of control numbers.

* * * * *

INS form No. INS form title

Currently assigned OMB

control No.

*******

I–907 ............................................................................................ Request for Premium Processing Services ............................... 1115–0241

*******

Dated: May 24, 2001.

Kevin D. Rooney,

Acting Commissioner, Immigration and

Naturalization Service.

[FR Doc. 01–13566 Filed 5–31–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 01–031–1]

Change in Disease Status of France,

Ireland, and The Netherlands Because

of 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 France, Ireland,

and The Netherlands from the list of

regions considered to be free of

rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease.

We recently removed Great Britain and

Northern Ireland from the list of regions

considered free of rinderpest and footand-mouth disease because of the

confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth

disease in those regions. The outbreak

in the United Kingdom has since spread

elsewhere in the European Union. We

are taking this additional action with

respect to France, Ireland, and The

Netherlands because the existence of

foot-and-mouth disease has been

confirmed there and these Member

States do not yet meet the Office

International des Epizooties criterion for

freedom of foot-and-mouth disease (i.e.,

a 3-month waiting period after the last

case in a region previously recognized

as free of the disease). The effect of this

action is to prohibit or restrict the

importation of any ruminant or swine

and any fresh (chilled or frozen) meat

and other products of ruminants or

swine into the United States from

France, Ireland, and The Netherlands.

DATES: This interim rule was effective

on February 19, 2001. We invite you to

comment on this docket. We will

consider all comments that we receive

by July 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies of

your comment (an original and three

copies) to: Docket No. 01–031–1,

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. 01–031–1.

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