[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 29921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13912]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 107 / Monday, June 4, 2001 / Proposed 
Rules

[[Page 29921]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 93

[Docket 99-071-2]


Cattle from Australia and New Zealand; Testing Exemption; Notice 
of Public Hearing

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are hosting a public 
hearing on our proposal to exempt cattle imported from Australia from 
testing for brucellosis and tuberculosis and to exempt cattle imported 
from New Zealand from testing for brucellosis. The purpose of the 
public hearing is to give persons an opportunity for the oral 
presentation of data, views, and arguments regarding the proposed rule.

DATES: We invite you to comment on Docket No. 99-071-1. We will 
consider all comments that we receive by June 19, 2001. We will also 
consider comments made at the public hearing that will be held in 
Riverdale, MD, on June 19, 2001. The hearing will be held from 8:30 
a.m. to noon.

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and 
three copies) to: Docket No. 99-071-1, 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. 99-071-1.
    You may read any comments that we receive on Docket No. 99-071-1 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.
    The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2001, in 
Conference Rooms C and D, USDA Center, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andrea Morgan, Associate Director, 
Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 33, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8093.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    On April 20, 2001, we published in the Federal Register (66 FR 
20211-20213, Docket No. 99-071-1) a proposed rule to amend the animal 
importation regulations to exempt cattle from Australia from testing 
for brucellosis and tuberculosis prior to their export to the United 
States and to exempt cattle from New Zealand from testing for 
brucellosis prior to their export to the United States. The comment 
period for the proposed rule ends June 19, 2001.
    In response to a request that we provide interested persons with an 
opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments, we 
have scheduled a public hearing. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, 
June 19, 2001, in Conference Rooms C and D, USDA Center, 4700 River 
Road, Riverdale, MD.
    A representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) will preside at the public hearing. Any interested person may 
appear and be heard in person, by attorney, or by other representative. 
If you wish to speak at the meeting, please register at the meeting 
room between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., before the meeting officially 
begins. The presiding officer will call speakers in the order in which 
they registered.
    The public hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. and is scheduled to end 
at noon. However, the hearing may be terminated at any time after it 
begins if all persons desiring to speak have been heard. We ask that 
anyone who reads a statement provide two copies to the presiding 
officer at the hearing.
    If the number of speakers at the hearing warrants it, the presiding 
officer may limit the time for each presentation so that everyone 
wishing to speak has the opportunity.
    The purpose of the hearing is to give interested persons an 
opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments. 
Questions about the content of the proposed rule may be part of the 
commenters' oral presentations. However, neither the presiding officer 
nor any other representative of APHIS will respond to comments at the 
hearing, except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed rule.
    If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language 
interpreter, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

Parking and Security Procedures

    Please note that a fee of $2 is required to enter the parking lot 
at the USDA Center. The machine accepts $1 bills or quarters.
    Upon entering the building, visitors should inform security 
personnel that they are attending the public hearing regarding testing 
requirements for cattle imported from Australia and New Zealand. 
Identification is required. Security personnel will direct visitors to 
the registration tables located outside of Conference Rooms C and D. 
Registration upon arrival is necessary for all participants. Visitor 
badges must be worn throughout the day.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of May 2001 .
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-13912 Filed 6-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U