Public Health Based Inspection System in Poultry Slaughter, 41702-41703 [E7-14805]
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41702
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 72, No. 146
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS–2007–0026]
Public Health Based Inspection
System in Poultry Slaughter
Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and
Inspection Service will hold a public
meeting to discuss public health based
inspection in poultry slaughter to
address Campylobacter, Salmonella,
and other issues of public health
concern. FSIS is seeking public input on
the ideas, concepts, data, and analyses
it will use to form the basis of a
technical plan. The public meeting will
afford FSIS and its stakeholders an
opportunity to discuss the rationale and
process for the Agency’s enhanced
approach, as well as the background
leading up to its current thinking on the
concept.
DATES: FSIS will hold the public
meeting on Tuesday, August 7, 2007, 9
a.m. to 1 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
George Mason University, School of
Public Policy, Arlington Original
Building, Room 244, 3401 Fairfax Drive,
Arlington, Virginia 22201. Directions to
the site and the agenda will be posted
on the FSIS Web site at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Meetings_&_Events/index.asp.
The meeting will be audio cast for
those who cannot attend in person.
Members of the public are encouraged
to pre-register for the meeting. Online
registration information and audio
information will be located at: https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Meetings_&_Events/index.asp.
FSIS welcomes comments on the
topics to be discussed at the public
meeting. The Agency’s technical papers
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15:11 Jul 30, 2007
Jkt 211001
relating to the topic will be posted at:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/
index.asp.
Comments on these papers and
questions may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic mail: An electronic mail
box has been established specifically for
risk-based inspection (RBI) comments
for the public meeting on August 7.
Comments may be submitted to:
riskbasedinspection@fsis.usda.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD–
ROMs: Send to Ellyn Blumberg, RBI
Public Meeting, United States
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, 14th &
Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Drop
405 Aerospace, Washington, DC 20250.
Hand- or courier-delivered items:
Deliver to Ellyn Blumberg at 901 D
Street, SW., Washington, DC. Have
security guard call (202) 690–6520.
Facsimile: Fax documents to (202)
690–6519.
All submissions received must
include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS–2007–0026. The
comments also will be posted on the
Agency’s Web site at: https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/
Risk_Based_Inspection/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keith Payne for technical information at
(202) 690–6522 or e-mail
keith.payne@fsis.usda.gov; Sally
Fernandez for meeting information at
(202) 690–6524, Fax (202) 690–6519, or
e-mail sally.fernandez@fsis.usda.gov.
Persons requiring a sign language
interpreter or other special
accommodations should notify the
Agency contacts no later than July 26,
2007, at the numbers above or by e-mail.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS) is the public health
regulatory agency in the U.S.
Department of Agriculture responsible
for ensuring that the nation’s
commercial supply of meat, poultry,
and egg products is safe, wholesome,
and correctly labeled and packaged.
FSIS is accountable for protecting the
lives and well-being of 295 million U.S.
citizens and millions more around the
world.
To meet the realities of food safety
and public health challenges, FSIS
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
intends to enhance its inspection system
and to develop and implement new,
science-based policies. FSIS is
considering proposing a new inspection
system in poultry slaughter
establishments that will improve public
health. Although rulemaking is not
expected immediately, FSIS is seeking
public input on the ideas, concepts,
data, and analyses that it will use to
form the basis for a technical plan and
in the development of a future proposed
rule.
The Agency’s thinking has evolved
and benefited from its experience with
the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Point (HACCP)-based Inspection Models
Project (HIMP). The new system will be
designed to provide more time and more
flexibility than the current systems for
FSIS personnel to conduct focused, offline verification activities according to
risk factors at each establishment and at
points in slaughter and processing
where food safety hazards and
associated risks may be introduced. The
public meeting will afford FSIS and its
stakeholders an opportunity to discuss
the rationale and process for the
Agency’s enhanced approach, as well as
for the Agency to present the
background that has led the Agency to
its current thinking on the concept. In
addition, the Agency will present the
scientific foundations for future
decision-making, including how to
address Salmonella and Campylobacter
and the use of generic E. coli as an
indicator of process control.
All interested parties are welcome to
attend the meeting and to submit
written comments and suggestions
through September 7, 2007. The
comments and the official transcript of
the meeting, when they become
available, will be posted on the
Agency’s Web site at: https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/
Risk_Based_Inspection/. All comments
received in response to this notice will
be considered part of the public record.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of
rulemaking and policy development is
important. Consequently, in an effort to
ensure that minorities, women, and
persons with disabilities are aware of
this notice, FSIS will announce it online
through the FSIS Web site located at:
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 31, 2007 / Notices
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/
2007_Notices_Index/.
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 constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is
communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for
industry, trade and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health
professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The
Update is available on the FSIS Web
site. Through the Listserv and Web site,
FSIS is able to provide information to a
much broader and 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:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_and_events/email_subscription/.
Subscription service options include
recalls and export information, as well
as regulations, directives, and notices.
Customers can add or delete
subscriptions themselves and have the
option to password protect their
account.
Done at Washington, DC, on: July 26, 2007.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7–14805 Filed 7–30–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canon
Ranger District, Custer, South
Dakota—Norbeck Wildlife Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This project proposes to
implement wildlife habitat
improvements on about 6,049 acres
within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve on
the Hell Canyon Ranger District of the
Black Hills National Forest. In addition,
the project proposes to conduct
prescribed burning on 7,391 acres of the
Black Elk Wilderness. This project will
analyze effects of these treatments
within the constraints of the Black Hills
National Forest Revised Land and
Resource Management Plan (BHNF
LRMP), as amended.
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15:11 Jul 30, 2007
Jkt 211001
Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis should be received
within 30 days after publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in March, 2008 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected July, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send writhen comments to
Michael Lloyd, District Ranger, Hell
Canyon Ranger District, 330 Mt.
Rushmore Rod., Custer, South Dakota
57730. Comment may also be submitted
by e-mail to: comments-rockymountain-black-hills-hellcanyon@fs.fed.us. with ‘‘Norbeck’’ as
subject. Electronic comments must be
submitted in word (.doc), RichText (.rtf),
or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alice Allen, Project Coordinator, Blacks
Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon
Ranger District, at 330 Mt. Rushmore
Rd., Custer, South Dakota 57730, phone
(605) 673–4853.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action: The
purpose for the proposed action is to
benefit ‘‘game animals and birds’’ by
improving habitat conditions in the
Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. In addition,
there is a need to protect these habitats
for game animals and birds in Norbeck
from a wildfire escaping from the Black
Elk Wilderness. The EIS will determine
current conditions, analyze
environmental consequences of habitat
improvements on those conditions, and
assist the decision maker in selecting
management/monitoring strategies
consistent with meeting desired
conditions in the BHNF LRMP,
including the goals for ‘‘Management
Areas 5.4A—Norbeck Wildlife Preserve’’
and ‘‘Management Area 1.1A—Black Elk
Wilderness’’. The Forest Service seeks
to provide high quality habitat for
‘‘game animals and birds’’ in accordance
with the Norbeck Organic Act of June 5,
1920.
Proposed Action: The Norbeck
Wildlife Project proposes to manage
vegetation to benefit game animals and
birds on about 6,049 acres within the
Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. The project
also proposes to use prescribed fire on
7,391 acres of the Black Elk Wilderness
to help protect these habitats from
wildfire escaping from the wilderness.
The Forest Service will evaluate,
analyze and determine the effects of the
proposed treatments on Norbeck focus
species (Griebel, Burns and Deisch
2007) including mountain goat, bighorn
sheep, elk, white-tailed deer, turkey,
bluebird, golden-crowned kinglet,
brown creeper, ruffed grouse, song
DATES:
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41703
sparrow, northern goshawk and blackbacked woodpecker.
Possible Alternatives: The No Action
alternative would not authorize habitat
improvements of any type on any
portion of the project area at this time.
Other alternatives may be developed in
response to public comments.
Responsible Official: The Responsible
Official for this project is Michael D.
Lloyd, District Ranger, Hell Canyon
Ranger District, Black Hills National
Forest, 330 Mt. Rushmore Rd., Custer,
South Dakota.
Nature of Decision to be Made: The
Forest Service will evaluate the
proposed action and alternatives. After
reviewing the proposed action, the
alternatives, the environmental analysis,
and considering public comment, the
District Ranger will reach a decision
that is in accordance with the purpose
and need for this project. The decision
will include, but not be limited to:
(1) Whether or not to undertake
vegetative treatments to improve habitat
conditions for game animals and birds
in Norbeck Wildlife Preserve,
(2) Whether or not to undertake
prescribed burning in the Black Elk
Wilderness to protect these habitats
from fire escaping from the wilderness,
(3) If so, what actions are appropriate
and under what conditions actions will
take place.
Public Comment: This notice of intent
initiates the scoping process which
guides the development of the
environmental impact statement. The
District desires to involve interested
parties in identifying issues related to
habitat management for game animals
and birds. Comments will help the
planning team identify key issues and
opportunities to develop habitat
improvements, monitoring strategies,
and alternatives.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft
environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. The comment
period on the draft environmental
impact statement will be 45 days from
the date the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this
early stage, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings
related to public participation in the
environmental review process. First,
reviewers of draft environmental impact
statements must structure their
participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer’s position and contentions.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41702-41703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14805]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 31, 2007 /
Notices
[[Page 41702]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2007-0026]
Public Health Based Inspection System in Poultry Slaughter
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service will hold a public
meeting to discuss public health based inspection in poultry slaughter
to address Campylobacter, Salmonella, and other issues of public health
concern. FSIS is seeking public input on the ideas, concepts, data, and
analyses it will use to form the basis of a technical plan. The public
meeting will afford FSIS and its stakeholders an opportunity to discuss
the rationale and process for the Agency's enhanced approach, as well
as the background leading up to its current thinking on the concept.
DATES: FSIS will hold the public meeting on Tuesday, August 7, 2007, 9
a.m. to 1 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at George Mason University, School
of Public Policy, Arlington Original Building, Room 244, 3401 Fairfax
Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201. Directions to the site and the agenda
will be posted on the FSIS Web site at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_
&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/index.asp.
The meeting will be audio cast for those who cannot attend in
person. Members of the public are encouraged to pre-register for the
meeting. Online registration information and audio information will be
located at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_
Events/index.asp.
FSIS welcomes comments on the topics to be discussed at the public
meeting. The Agency's technical papers relating to the topic will be
posted at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_
Events/index.asp.
Comments on these papers and questions may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic mail: An electronic mail box has been established
specifically for risk-based inspection (RBI) comments for the public
meeting on August 7. Comments may be submitted to:
riskbasedinspection@fsis.usda.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs: Send to Ellyn Blumberg,
RBI Public Meeting, United States Department of Agriculture, Food
Safety and Inspection Service, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW., Mail
Drop 405 Aerospace, Washington, DC 20250.
Hand- or courier-delivered items: Deliver to Ellyn Blumberg at 901
D Street, SW., Washington, DC. Have security guard call (202) 690-6520.
Facsimile: Fax documents to (202) 690-6519.
All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS-2007-0026. The comments also will be posted on the Agency's
Web site at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_
Based_Inspection/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Payne for technical information
at (202) 690-6522 or e-mail keith.payne@fsis.usda.gov; Sally Fernandez
for meeting information at (202) 690-6524, Fax (202) 690-6519, or e-
mail sally.fernandez@fsis.usda.gov. Persons requiring a sign language
interpreter or other special accommodations should notify the Agency
contacts no later than July 26, 2007, at the numbers above or by e-
mail.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health
regulatory agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for
ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg
products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. FSIS
is accountable for protecting the lives and well-being of 295 million
U.S. citizens and millions more around the world.
To meet the realities of food safety and public health challenges,
FSIS intends to enhance its inspection system and to develop and
implement new, science-based policies. FSIS is considering proposing a
new inspection system in poultry slaughter establishments that will
improve public health. Although rulemaking is not expected immediately,
FSIS is seeking public input on the ideas, concepts, data, and analyses
that it will use to form the basis for a technical plan and in the
development of a future proposed rule.
The Agency's thinking has evolved and benefited from its experience
with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based
Inspection Models Project (HIMP). The new system will be designed to
provide more time and more flexibility than the current systems for
FSIS personnel to conduct focused, off-line verification activities
according to risk factors at each establishment and at points in
slaughter and processing where food safety hazards and associated risks
may be introduced. The public meeting will afford FSIS and its
stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the rationale and process for
the Agency's enhanced approach, as well as for the Agency to present
the background that has led the Agency to its current thinking on the
concept. In addition, the Agency will present the scientific
foundations for future decision-making, including how to address
Salmonella and Campylobacter and the use of generic E. coli as an
indicator of process control.
All interested parties are welcome to attend the meeting and to
submit written comments and suggestions through September 7, 2007. The
comments and the official transcript of the meeting, when they become
available, will be posted on the Agency's Web site at: https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Risk_Based_Inspection/.
All comments received in response to this notice will be considered
part of the public record.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web site located
at:
[[Page 41703]]
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2007_Notices_Index/.
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 constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade and farm
groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, and
other individuals who have asked to be included. The Update is
available on the FSIS Web site. Through the Listserv and Web site, FSIS
is able to provide information to a much broader and 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: https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/. Subscription
service options include recalls and export information, as well as
regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete
subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their
account.
Done at Washington, DC, on: July 26, 2007.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-14805 Filed 7-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
