Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2003/04/25/03-10242/tuberculosis-in-cattle-and-bison-state-designations-california
Timestamp: 2016-05-25 05:22:12
Document Index: 244142821

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77', '§ 77']

Federal Register | Tuberculosis in Cattle and Bison; State Designations; California
Effective Date: 04/25/2003
-20336 (4 pages)
Docket No. 03-005-1
Document Number: 03-10242
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/03-10242 Related Topics
We are amending the bovine tuberculosis regulations regarding State and zone classifications by removing California from the list of accredited-free States and adding it to the list of modified accredited advanced States. This action is necessary to help prevent the spread of tuberculosis because California no longer meets the requirements for accredited-free State status.
This interim rule is effective April 25, 2003.
Compliance Date: The date for complying with certain requirements of 9 CFR 77.10 for sexually intact heifers, steers, and spayed heifers moving interstate from the State of California is September 30, 2003 (see “Delay in Compliance” under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). The compliance date for all other provisions in 9 CFR 77 applicable to the interstate movement of cattle and bison from the State of California is April 25, 2003.
You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket No. 03-005-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 03-005-1. If you use e-mail, address your comment to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comment must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in your message and “Docket No. 03-005-1” on the subject line.
The status of a State or zone is based on its freedom from evidence of tuberculosis in cattle and bison, the effectiveness of the State's tuberculosis eradication program, and the degree of the State's compliance with the standards for cattle and bison contained in the UMR. In an interim rule effective October 14, 1999, and published in the Federal Register on October 20, 1999 (64 FR 56399-56400, Docket No. 99-063-1), we raised the designation of California (as well as Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico) from modified accredited to accredited-free.
Recently, two tuberculosis-affected herds (two dairy herds in the spring and fall of 2002) were detected in Tulare County, CA. Under the regulations in § 77.7(c), if two or more affected herds are detected in an accredited-free State or zone within a 48-month period, the State or zone will be removed from the list of accredited-free States or zones and will be reclassified as modified accredited advanced. Therefore, we are amending the regulations by removing California from the list of accredited-free States or zones and adding it to the list of modified accredited advanced States or zones.
Under the regulations in § 77.10, cattle or bison that originate in a modified accredited advanced State or zone, and are not known to be infected with or exposed to tuberculosis, may be moved interstate only under one of the following conditions:
The cattle or bison are moved directly to slaughter at an approved slaughtering establishment (§ 77.10(a));
The cattle or bison are sexually intact heifers moved to an approved feedlot, or are steers or spayed heifers; and are either officially identified or identified by premises of origin identification (§ 77.10(b));
The cattle or bison are from an accredited herd and are accompanied by a certificate stating that the accredited herd completed the testing necessary for accredited status with negative results within 1 year prior to the date of movement (§ 77.10(c)); or
The cattle or bison are sexually intact animals, are not from an accredited herd, are officially identified, and are accompanied by a certificate stating that they were negative to an official tuberculin test conducted within 60 days prior to the date of movement (§ 77.10(d)).
Delay in Compliance Back to Top
In an interim rule effective June 3, 2002, and published the Federal Register on June 6, 2002 (67 FR 38841-38844, Docket No. 02-021-1), we amended the regulations by classifying the State of Texas as modified accredited advanced. Given the size and complexity of the cattle industry in Texas, we have delayed the date for complying with certain identification and certification requirements in § 77.10 for sexually intact heifers, steers, and spayed heifers moving interstate from the State of Texas until September 30, 2003. In that interim rule, we also solicited comments on the current regulatory provisions of the domestic bovine tuberculosis eradication program, and we are currently considering proposing several changes to the regulations as a result of comments received regarding those provisions. In the interests of equitable treatment for producers in California, we are similarly delaying the date of compliance with the following interstate movement requirements of § 77.10 for sexually intact heifers, steers, and spayed heifers moving interstate from the State of California until September 30, 2003:
The identification of sexually intact heifers moving to approved feedlots and steers and spayed heifers (§ 77.10(b));
The identification requirements for sexually intact heifers moving to feedlots that are not approved feedlots (§ 77.10(d));
Because identification is required for certification, the certification requirements for sexually intact heifers moving to unapproved feedlots (§ 77.10(d)).
This interim rule changes the status of California to modified accredited advanced, resulting in interstate movement restrictions where none existed previously. Specifically, as explained previously, § 77.10 requires that, for movement to certain destinations, animals must test negative to an official tuberculin test and/or be officially identified by premises of origin identification before interstate movement.
The cost of tuberculin testing and individual identification for an average-sized herd of 101 animals is about $396. The approximate per-animal testing cost is $3.76, and the cost of official identification (an eartag) and an applicator is about $0.16 per head plus the cost of labor to apply the eartags. On January 1, 2002, the average value per animal in California was estimated to be $930, which translates to an average value per 101-head herd of about $94,000. Thus, we believe that the added cost of the required tuberculin testing and identification is small relative to the average value of cattle and bison, representing less than 1 percent of the per-head value. Further, since this rule provides for a delay in date of compliance with the identification requirements in § 77.10(b) and (d), the identification costs for sexually intact heifers, steers, and spayed heifers moving interstate from the State of California will be deferred until at least September 30, 2003.
This interim rule removes California from the list of accredited-free States for bovine tuberculosis and adds it to the list of modified accredited advanced States. Cattle or bison that originate in a modified accredited advanced State or zone, and are not known to be infected with or exposed to tuberculosis, may be moved interstate only if the animals meet certain conditions with regards to transport, identification, and accreditation. These conditions are detailed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION portion of this document as well as in § 77.10 of the regulations. As previously noted however, these requirements are suspended until September 30, 2003. We are soliciting comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection and recordkeeping requirements. These comments will help us:
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS” Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. For information pertinent to GPEA compliance related to this interim rule, please contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS” Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
2.In § 77.7, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the word “California,”. § 77.9 [Amended]
3.In § 77.9, paragraph (a) is amended by adding the words “California and” immediately before the word “Texas”. § 77.10 [Amended]
4.Section 77.10 is amended by revising the OMB control number citation at the end of the section to read as follows: “(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control numbers 0579-0146 and 0579-0220)”. end regulatory text
Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of April 2003.