28214 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 113 / Monday, June 15, 2009 / Notices 

approximately 434 consumers contacted 

by telephone will decline to participate 

in the surveys). 

Estimated No. of Annual Responses 

per Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 144.8 hours. 

Copies of this information collection 

assessment can be obtained from John 

O’Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act 

Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection 

Service, USDA, 1400 Independence, 

SW., Room 3532, South Bldg., 

Washington, DC 20250, (202)720–0345. 

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of FSIS’s functions, including whether 

the information will have practical 

utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’s 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information, including the 

validity of the methodology and 

assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 

the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (d) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information, including 

through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques, or other forms of 

information technology. Comments may 

be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses 

provided above, and the Desk Officer for 

Agriculture, Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs, Office of 

Management and Budget, Washington, 

DC 20253. 

Responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

also become a matter of public record. 

Additional Public Notification 

Public awareness of all segments of 

rulemaking and policy development is 

important. Consequently, in an effort to 

ensure that the public and in particular 

minorities, women, and persons with 

disabilities are aware of this notice, 

FSIS will announce it on-line through 

the FSIS Web page located at http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/ 

2009_Notices_Index/index.asp. 

FSIS also will make copies of this 

Federal Register publication available 

through the FSIS Constituent Update, 

which is used to provide information 

regarding FSIS policies, procedures, 

regulations, Federal Register notices, 

FSIS public meetings, and other types of 

information that could affect or would 

be of interest to our constituents and 

stakeholders. The Update is 

communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail 

subscription service consisting of 

industry, trade, and farm groups, 

consumer interest groups, allied health 

professionals, scientific professionals, 

and other individuals who have 

requested to be included. The Update 

also is available on the FSIS Web page. 

Through Listserv and the Web page, 

FSIS is able to provide information to a 

much broader, more diverse audience. 

In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail 

subscription service which provides 

automatic and customized access to 

selected food safety news and 

information. This service is available at 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ 

news_and_events/email_subscription/. 

Options range from recalls to export 

information to regulations, directives 

and notices. Customers can add or 

delete subscriptions themselves, and 

have the option to password protect 

their accounts. 

Done at Washington, DC, on June 9, 2009. 

Alfred V. Almanza, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. E9–13936 Filed 6–12–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Proposed Amendment of Rogue River, 

Umpqua and Winema National Forest 

(NF) Land and Resource Management 

Plans for the Pacific Connector Gas 

Pipeline 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

environmental impact statement for 

Land and Resource Management Plan 

amendments. 

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is 

proposing to amend the Land and 

Resource Management Plans (LRMP) of 

the Rogue River (administered as the 

Rogue River-Siskiyou NF), Umpqua, and 

Winema (administered as the FremontWinema NF) National Forests to make 

provision for the proposed Pacific 

Connector Gas Pipeline (PCGP). The 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

(FERC) is the lead agency for the 

environmental analysis of the 

construction and operation of the 

proposed natural gas pipeline (FERC 

Docket No. CP07–441–000). The FERC 

has prepared an environmental impact 

statement (EIS) that discusses the 

environmental impacts that could result 

from the construction and operation of 

the PCGP. FERC issued the FEIS for the 

PCGP on May 1, 2009. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service is a Cooperating Agency 

with the FERC in environmental 

analysis and preparation of the EIS for 

the PCGP. Certain features of the PCGP 

Project could not be made consistent 

with the LRMPs of the Rogue River, 

Umpqua and Winema National Forests 

because of the nature of pipeline 

construction. Therefore, in order to 

comply with the requirements of the 

National Forest Management Act 

(NFMA) the Forest Service must amend 

these LRMPs to make provision for the 

PCGP. 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 30 

days from the date this notice is 

published in the Federal Register. The 

draft environmental impact statement 

for amendment of forest plans is 

expected to be published in August, 

2009 and the final environmental 

impact statement is expected in 

December, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: 

Pam Sichting, Umpqua National Forest, 

2900 NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, 

OR 97471. Comments may also be sent 

via e-mail to: commentspacificnorthwest-umpqua@fs.fed.us, or 

via facsimile to 541–957–3495. 

Comments may be hand-delivered to the 

above address Monday through Friday, 

from 8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., excluding 

legal holidays. 

Comments received in response to 

this solicitation, including names and 

addresses of those who comment, will 

be part of the public record for this 

proposed action. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered; however, anonymous 

comments will not provide the 

respondent with standing to appeal the 

subsequent decision. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam 

Sichting at 541–957–3342 or by e-mail 

at psichting@fs.fed.us. Individuals who 

use telecommunication devices for the 

deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 

800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 

p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through 

Friday. 

Information concerning the 

construction and operation of the PCGP 

is contained in the FERC Jordon CovePacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project 

Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

Also information about the Project is 

available from the FERC Office of 

External Affairs at 1–866–208 FERC 

(3372) or on the FERC Internet Web site 

(http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary 

link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on 

‘‘General Search,’’ and enter the docket 

number (CP07–441–000) excluding the 

last three digits in the Docket. For 

assistance, please contact FERC Online 

Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov 

or toll free at 1–866–208–3676, or for 

TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 113 / Monday, June 15, 2009 / Notices 28215 

eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web 

site also provides access to the texts of 

final documents issued by the 

Commission, such as Orders, notices, 

and rule makings. 

Finally, PCGP has established a Web 

site for this project at http:// 

www.pacificconnectorgp.com/. The Web 

site includes a project overview, 

timeline, safety and environmental 

information, and answers to frequently 

asked questions. You can also request 

additional information by e-mailing 

PCGP at pacificconnector@williams.com 

or by phone at 866–227–9249. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action 

Jordon Cove—Pacific Connector LP 

(Company) has proposed to construct a 

36 inch natural gas pipeline from a 

liquified natural gas terminal at Coos 

Bay, Oregon, to an interstate gas 

transmission pipeline at Malin, Oregon. 

The PCGP will provide natural gas to 

southern Oregon, the Willamette Valley, 

California and Nevada. The Company 

submitted its application for the Pacific 

Connector Gas Pipeline (PCGP) project 

to the FERC on September 4, 2007. The 

applications were noticed in the Federal 

Register on September 13, 2007. The 

FERC authorizes the construction and 

operation of natural gas pipelines upon 

its determination that the pipeline 

fulfills a public need. The PCGP is 

proposed to cross the Rogue River, 

Umpqua and Winema National Forests 

on its route between Coos Bay and 

Malin, Oregon. Transmission of natural 

gas is a legitimate use of public land 

consistent with the Natural Gas Act, the 

Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the 

Forest Service’s National Strategic Plan, 

2007–2012. 

A Notice of Intent (NOI) was issued 

by the FERC for construction and 

operation of the PCGP on June 23, 2006. 

Subsequently, a Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement (DEIS) was made 

available to the public on August 29, 

2008. The public comment period on 

the DEIS closed on December 4, 2008. 

The FERC, as lead Federal agency, 

issued the Jordan Cove-Pacific 

Connector Gas Pipeline Final 

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 

on May 1, 2009. For portions of the 

proposed PCGP that cross National 

Forest System lands, the Forest Service 

was a cooperating agency with the FERC 

in preparing the EIS for the Project. The 

FERC will use this FEIS to determine 

whether to issue a Certificate of Public 

Convenience and Necessity (Certificate). 

The Certificate authorizes construction 

and operation of the PCGP. 

The Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) issues and administers natural 

gas pipeline Right of Way Grants across 

all Federal lands, including the Forest 

Service, under the Mineral Leasing Act. 

The PCGP must have a Right of Way 

Grant to occupy any Federal lands in 

addition to the FERC’s Certificate. To 

issue a Right of Way Grant across NFS 

lands, the BLM must obtain the consent 

of the Forest Service. 

The National Forest Management Act 

(NFMA) requires all projects or 

activities on a given National Forest to 

be consistent with that Forest’s LRMP. 

Certain features of this project could not 

be made consistent with the LRMPs of 

the Rogue River, Umpqua and Winema 

National Forests because of the nature of 

pipeline construction. Therefore, the 

Forest Service must amend these LRMPs 

in order to comply with the 

requirements of NFMA prior to 

consenting to the BLM’s issuance of a 

Right of Way Grant. This Notice of 

Intent is for preparation of an EIS by the 

Forest Service that will consider and 

disclose the significance of these 

proposed amendments pursuant to 36 

CFR 219.10(f)(1982 Version). The issue 

of whether a plan amendment is 

significant is guided by several factors, 

including the timing and duration of the 

proposed change, the location and size 

of the project, and how the proposed 

change may alter multiple-use goals and 

objectives for long-term land and 

resource management. In this analysis of 

significance, the Forest Service will rely 

on the FERC EIS for consideration of 

environmental consequences of 

construction and operation of the PCGP. 

These amendments of Forest Plans will 

only be implemented if the FERC 

authorizes the PCGP. 

Proposed Action 

This Proposed Action is to amend the 

LRMPs of the Rogue River, Umpqua and 

Winema National Forests to make 

provision for the PCGP. 

Rogue River NF LRMP—The Forest 

Service proposes to amend the Rogue 

River NF LRMP as follows: 

• By establishing a Forest Plan 

objective that states: While considering 

other multiple use values, the Forest 

shall facilitate and make provision for 

energy transmission via the Pacific 

Connector Gas Pipeline consistent with 

the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the 

Mineral Leasing Act, the Natural Gas 

Act, the Multiple Use Sustained Yield 

Act and the National Forest 

Management Act. 

• By changing the designation of 

approximately 600 acres from the matrix 

land allocation to the LSR 227 land 

allocation. Standards and Guidelines for 

Developments in Late Successional 

Reserves (LSRs) require that new 

developments that may adversely affect 

LSRs be minimized or mitigated (see 

Standards and Guidelines for 

Management of Habitat for LateSuccessional and Old-Growth Related 

Species Within the Range of the 

Northern Spotted Owl, Page C–17). This 

change in land allocation is proposed to 

mitigate the potential adverse impact of 

the PCGP on LSR 227 on the Rogue 

River National Forest. This amendment 

would change future management 

direction for the lands transferred from 

matrix to LSR. Additional mitigations 

for impacts to LSRs are included in the 

FERC FEIS in Appendix L for the PCGP. 

• By changing the Visual Quality 

Objective (VQO) in the vicinity where 

the 75 foot wide PCGP Right of Way 

crosses the Big Elk Road from 

Foreground Retention to Foreground 

Partial Retention and allowing ten to 

fifteen years for amended visual quality 

objectives to be attained. Existing 

Standards and Guidelines for VQO in 

foreground retention where the PCGP 

crosses the Big Elk Road require VQO’s 

be met within 1 year of completion of 

the project and that management 

activities not be visually evident (Rogue 

River NF LRMP, Page 4–72, 

Management Area 6). This amendment 

applies only to the Right of Way of the 

PCGP in the vicinity of the Big Elk Road 

and does not change future management 

direction for any other project. 

Additional mitigations for impacts to 

scenic resources are included in the 

PCGP FEIS Appendix L. 

• By changing the Visual Quality 

Objective in the vicinity where the 75 

foot wide PCGP Right of Way crosses 

the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from 

Foreground Partial Retention to 

modification and allowing ten to fifteen 

years for amended visual quality 

objectives to be attained. Existing 

Standards and Guidelines for Visual 

Quality Objectives in Foreground Partial 

Retention (Rogue River NF LRMP, Page 

4–86, Management Area 7) where the 

PCGP crosses the Pacific Crest Trail, 

requires visual mitigations to meet the 

stated visual quality objective within 2 

years of the completion of the project 

and that management activities be 

visually subordinate to the landscape. 

This amendment applies only to the 

Right of Way of the PCGP in the vicinity 

of the Pacific Crest Trail and does not 

change future management direction. 

Additional mitigations for visual 

impacts are included in the PCGP FEIS 

Appendix L. 

• By waiving restrictions on 

detrimental soil conditions from 

displacement and compaction within 

the Right of Way of the PCGP in all 

management areas. Standards and 


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28216 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 113 / Monday, June 15, 2009 / Notices 

Guidelines for detrimental soil impacts 

in all affected management areas require 

that no more than 10% of the activity 

area be detrimentally compacted, 

puddled or displaced upon completion 

of a project. Additional mitigations for 

detrimental soil conditions are in the 

PCGP FEIS in Appendix L. 

• By allowing the PCGP to cross the 

Restricted Riparian land allocation. This 

potentially affects two perennial streams 

and approximately 0.7 of an acre of the 

Restricted Riparian land allocation. 

Standards and Guidelines for the 

Restricted Riparian land allocation 

(Rogue River NF LRMP, page 4–308, 

Management Area 26) states that 

transmission corridors should be 

located outside of this management 

area. This amendment applies only to 

the project area of the PCGP and does 

not change future management 

direction. Mitigations for potential 

adverse impacts to the Restricted 

Riparian land allocation are included in 

the PCGP FEIS in Appendix L. 

Umpqua NF LRMP—The Forest 

Service proposes to amend the Umpqua 

NF LRMP as follows: 

• By changing the designation of 

approximately 585 acres from the matrix 

land allocation to the LSR 223 land 

allocation. Standards and Guidelines for 

Developments in Late Successional 

Reserves (LSRs) require that new 

developments that may adversely affect 

LSRs be minimized or mitigated (see 

Standards and Guidelines for 

Management of Habitat for LateSuccessional and Old-Growth Related 

Species Within the Range of the 

Northern Spotted Owl, Page C–17). This 

change in land allocation is proposed to 

mitigate the potential adverse impact of 

the PCGP on LSR 223 on the Umpqua 

NF. This amendment would change 

future management direction for the 

lands transferred from matrix to LSR. 

Additional mitigations for impacts to 

LSRs are included in the PCGP FEIS in 

Appendix L. 

• By amending Standards and 

Guidelines for Fisheries (Umpqua NF 

LRMP, page IV–33, Forest-Wide) to 

allow the removal of effective shading 

vegetation where perennial streams are 

crossed by the PCGP. This potentially 

affects approximately 5 perennial 

streams by removing an estimated 3 

acres of effective shade. This 

amendment applies only to the 75 foot 

right of way where the PCGP crosses 

perennial streams and does not change 

future management direction at any 

other location. Mitigations for impacts 

on fisheries are included in the FERC 

FEIS for the PCGP in Appendix L. 

• By waiving restrictions on 

detrimental soil conditions from 

displacement and compaction within 

the Right of Way of the PCGP. Standards 

and Guidelines for Soils (Umpqua NF 

LRMP, page IV–67) requires that not 

more than 20% of the project area 

should have detrimental compaction, 

displacement or puddling after 

completion of the project. This 

amendment applies only to the project 

area of the PCGP and does not change 

future management direction. 

Mitigations for soils with detrimental 

conditions are included in the PCGP 

FEIS in Appendix L. 

• By amending prescriptions C2–I, 

C2–II, C2–III, C2–IV, C2–V, and C2–VI 

(Umpqua NF LRMP IV–169–182) to 

allow the PCGP to cross Riparian Areas 

and run parallel to streams. This 

potentially affects approximately 0.8 of 

an acre of Riparian Reserve. This 

amendment applies only to the project 

area of the PCGP and does not change 

future management direction. 

Mitigations for potential adverse 

impacts from Project stream crossings 

are included in the FEIS for the PCGP 

in Appendix L. 

Winema National Forest—The Forest 

Service proposes to amend the Winema 

NF LRMP as follows: 

• By amending Standards and 

Guidelines for Management Area 3 

(Winema NF LRMP, page 4–103–4, 

Lands) to allow the 95 foot wide PCGP 

corridor in MA–3 from the Forest 

Boundary to the Clover Creek Road 

corridor. This corridor is approximately 

1 mile long and affects and potentially 

affects approximately 11 acres. This 

amendment applies only to the project 

area of the PCGP and does not change 

future management direction. 

Mitigations for potential adverse 

impacts to scenic values are included in 

the FEIS for the PCGP in Appendix L. 

• By allowing more time to achieve 

Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) in the 

vicinity where the 75 foot wide PCGP 

corridor crosses the Dead Indian 

Memorial Highway. Standards and 

Guidelines for Scenic Management, 

Foreground Retention (Winema NF 

LRMP, page 4–103, MA 3A, Foreground 

Retention) require visual quality 

objectives for a given location be 

achieved within 1 year of completion of 

the project. The Forest Service proposes 

to allow a longer time frame to meet the 

specified VQO at this location. This 

amendment applies only to the project 

area of the PCGP and does not change 

future management direction. 

Mitigations for visual impacts are 

included in the FEIS for the PCGP in 

Appendix L. 

• By allowing more time to meet 

Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) for 

Scenic Management, Foreground Partial 

Retention where the PCGP is in the 

vicinity of the Clover Creek Road from 

approximate pipeline milepost 170 to 

175. This potentially affects 

approximately 50 acres where it will 

take additional time to meet the Partial 

Retention standard. Standards and 

Guidelines for Foreground Partial 

Retention (Winema NF LRMP, page 4– 

107, MA 3B) requires that visual quality 

objectives be met within 1 year of 

completion of a project. The Forest 

Service proposes to allow a longer time 

frame to meet the amended VQO at this 

location. This amendment applies only 

to the project area of the PCGP in the 

vicinity of the Clover Creek Road and 

does not change future management 

direction. Mitigations for potential 

adverse impacts to scenic values are 

included in the FEIS for the PCGP in 

Appendix L. 

• By waiving restrictions on 

detrimental soil conditions from 

displacement and compaction within 

the Right of Way of the PCGP in all 

management areas. Standards and 

Guidelines for detrimental soil impacts 

(Winema NF LRMP, page 4–73, 12–5) in 

all affected management areas require 

that no more than 20% of the activity 

area be detrimentally compacted, 

puddled or displaced upon completion 

of a project. Additional mitigations for 

detrimental soil conditions are in the 

PCGP FEIS in Appendix L. 

• By waiving restrictions on 

detrimental soil conditions from 

displacement and compaction within 

the 75 foot wide Right of Way of the 

PCGP within Management Area 8 

Riparian Area. This potentially affects 

approximately 0.5 miles of Management 

Area 8 Riparian Area totaling an 

estimated 9.6 acres. Standards and 

Guidelines for Soil and Water, 

Management Area 8 (Winema NF LRMP, 

page 4–137, 2) require that not more 

than 10% of the total riparian zone in 

an activity area be in a detrimental soil 

condition upon the completion of a 

project. This amendment applies only to 

the project area of the PCGP and does 

not change future management 

direction. Mitigations for potential 

adverse soil impacts are included in the 

PCGP FEIS in Appendix L. 

Lead Agency 

The Forest Service is the Lead Agency 

for amendments of Forest Plans. 

Responsible Official 

The Responsible Officials for 

amendments of the Rogue River, 

Umpqua and Winema LRMPs are 

respectively Forest Supervisors, Scott D. 

Conroy, Clifford J. Dils and Karen 

Shimamoto. 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 113 / Monday, June 15, 2009 / Notices 28217 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The nature of the decision to be made 

is whether the respective LRMPs would 

be amended if the FERC authorizes the 

PCGP. 

Scoping Process 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process, which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. With this NOI, the 

Forest Service is requesting public 

comments on the proposed amendments 

of the Rogue River, Umpqua and 

Winema NF LRMPs. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such manner that they are useful to the 

agency’s preparation of the 

environmental impact statement. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. The submission of timely 

and specific comments can affect a 

reviewer’s ability to participate in 

subsequent administrative appeal or 

judicial review. 

Dated: June 8, 2009. 

Clifford J. Dils, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E9–14045 Filed 6–12–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2009–0005] 

Notice of Availability of an Evaluation 

of the Highly Pathogenic Avian 

Influenza Subtype H5N1 Status of 

Hungary 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of availability and 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: We are advising the public 

that the Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service has prepared an 

evaluation of the animal health status of 

two counties (Ba ́cs-Kiskun and 

Csongra ́d) in Hungary relative to the 

H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic 

avian influenza (HPAI). The evaluation 

presents our assessment of the HPAI 

H5N1 detection, control, and 

eradication measures in place in those 

two counties in Hungary during 

outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 in 2006 and 

2007. If, after the close of the comment 

period, APHIS can identify no 

additional risk factors that would 

indicate that domestic poultry in these 

two counties continue to be affected 

with HPAI H5N1, we would conclude 

that the importation of live birds, 

poultry carcasses, parts of carcasses, and 

eggs (other than hatching eggs) of 

poultry, game birds, or other birds from 

Ba ́cs-Kiskun and Csongra ́d Counties in 

Hungary presents a low risk of 

introducing HPAI H5N1 into the United 

States. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before July 15, 

2009. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ 

component/ 

main?main=DocketDetial&d=APHIS2009-0005 to submit or view comments 

and to view supporting and related 

materials available electronically. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Please send two copies of your comment 

to Docket No. APHIS–2009–0005, 

Regulatory Analysis and Development, 

PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 

River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 

20737–1238. Please state that your 

comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 

2009–0005. 

Reading Room: You may read any 

comments that we receive on the 

evaluation 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 

house 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. 

Other Information: Additional 

information about APHIS and its 

programs is available on the Internet at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Javier Vargas, Case Manager, 

Regionalization Evaluation Services 

Staff, National Center for Import and 

Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, 

Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; 

(301) 734–0756. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Under the Animal Health Protection 

Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.), the Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS) has the authority to prohibit or 

restrict the importation into the United 

States of animals, animal products, and 

other articles in order to prevent the 

introduction of diseases and pests into 

the U.S. livestock and poultry 

populations. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza 

(HPAI) is a highly infectious disease of 

poultry. The H5N1 subtype of HPAI is 

an extremely infectious and fatal form of 

the disease. HPAI can strike poultry 

quickly without any warning signs of 

infection and, once established, can 

spread rapidly from flock to flock. HPAI 

viruses can also be spread by manure, 

equipment, vehicles, egg flats, crates, 

and people whose clothing or shoes 

have come in contact with the virus. 

HPAI viruses can remain viable at 

moderate temperatures for long periods 

in the environment and can survive 

indefinitely in frozen material. The 

H5N1 subtype of HPAI has been of 

particular concern because it has 

crossed the species barrier and caused 

disease in humans. 

From June 9 to July 12, 2006, 

Hungary’s Department for Food Chain 

Safety and Animal Health (DFCSAH) 

reported to the World Organization for 

Animal Health (OIE) seven outbreaks of 

HPAI H5N1 in domestic waterfowl in 

Ba ́cs-Kiskun County. 

On January 21 and January 26, 2007, 

the DFCSAH detected two outbreaks of 

HPAI H5N1 in commercial flocks of 

geese in Csongra ́d County. 

To prevent the introduction of HPAI 

H5N1 into the United States, APHIS 

designated Hungary’s counties of Ba ́csKiskun and Csongra ́d as regions where 

HPAI was considered to exist and 

prohibited the importation of birds, 

poultry, and poultry products from 

these regions into the United States. 

In a document titled ‘‘APHIS’ 

Evaluation of the Status of High 

Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 

Virus in Hungary’’ (November 2008), we 

present the results of our evaluation of 

the status of HPAI H5N1 in domestic 

poultry in Hungary in light of the 

actions taken by Hungarian authorities 

since the outbreaks, and document our 

analysis of the risk associated with 

allowing the importation of birds, 

poultry, and poultry products from 

Ba ́cs-Kiskun and Csongra ́d Counties, 

Hungary, into the United States in the 

aftermath of the outbreaks. 

We based our evaluation of the HPAI 

H5N1 status of the two counties in 

Hungary on the following critical 

factors: 

• Hungary had been free of outbreaks 

of the H5N1 subtype in its domestic 

poultry for at least 3 months as a result 

of effective control measures taken by a 

competent veterinary infrastructure; 

• HPAI H5N1 was a notifiable disease 

in Ba ́cs-Kiskun and Csongra ́d Counties 

at the time of the outbreaks; 

• Hungary had an ongoing disease 

awareness program in place at the time 

of the outbreaks; 


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