Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on the Establishment of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture at the Department of Agriculture, 70-71 [E8-31258]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
70
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 2009 / Notices
Germany into the United States in the
aftermath of the outbreaks.
On December 1, 2007, Poland’s
General Veterinary Inspectorate
reported an HPAI H5N1 outbreak in
domestic poultry. This first outbreak
was detected in broiler turkeys, and
between December 1 and December 22,
2007, Poland reported a total of 10
outbreaks to the OIE.
To prevent the introduction of HPAI
H5N1 into the United States, APHIS
designated Poland’s provinces of
Warminsko-Mazurskie, Mazowiekie,
and Kujawsko-Pomorskie as regions
where HPAI was considered to exist,
and prohibited the importation of birds,
poultry, and poultry products from
these provinces into the United States.
In a document titled ‘‘APHIS’
Evaluation of the Status of High
Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1
Virus in Poland’’ (October 2008), we
present the results of our evaluation of
the status of HPAI H5N1 in domestic
poultry in Poland in light of the actions
taken by Polish authorities since the
outbreaks, and document our analysis of
the risk associated with allowing
importation of birds, poultry, and
poultry products from Poland into the
United States in the aftermath of the
outbreaks.
We based our evaluation of Germany’s
and Poland’s HPAI H5N1 status on the
following critical factors:
• Each region 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 each region at the time of the
outbreak;
• Each region had an ongoing disease
awareness program in place at the time
of the outbreak;
• Each region investigated notified or
suspected occurrences of the disease;
• Each region had an effective
surveillance program in place that
supported the detection and
investigation of outbreaks;
• Diagnostic and laboratory
capabilities within each region were
both adequate and effective;
• Each region undertook appropriate
eradication and control measures and
movement restrictions in response to
the outbreaks to prevent further spread
of disease; and
• In each region, procedures used for
repopulation of affected premises
included monitoring to demonstrate that
HPAI H5N1 had been eradicated from
the premises.
Based on these factors, which are
consistent with the OIE’s
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:23 Dec 31, 2008
Jkt 217001
recommendations for reinstatement for
trade with a country that has
experienced an HPAI H5N1 outbreak,1
our evaluations conclude that the
German Federal Ministry of Consumer
Protection, Food and Agriculture and
Poland’s General Veterinary
Inspectorate were able to effectively
control and eradicate HPAI H5N1 in
their respective domestic poultry
populations and that the German and
Polish authorities have adequate control
measures in place to rapidly identify,
control, and eradicate the disease
should it be reintroduced into their
respective countries in either wild birds
or domestic poultry.
We are making the evaluations
available for public comment. We will
consider all comments that we receive
on or before the date listed under the
heading DATES at the beginning of this
notice.
If, after the close of the comment
period, APHIS can identify no
additional risk factors that would
indicate that domestic poultry in
regions of Germany or Poland 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 regions of Germany and
Poland presents a low risk of
introducing HPAI H5N1 into the United
States.
For Germany, we expect we would lift
the restrictions we imposed in response
to the 2006 and 2007 outbreaks and
maintain the restrictions we imposed in
response to the October 2008 outbreak
until the European Commission lifts the
restrictions, at which point we would
reevaluate the HPAI H5N1 status of the
¨
district of Gorlitz in Saxony.
The evaluations may be viewed on the
Regulations.gov Web site or in our
reading room (see ADDRESSES above for
a link to Regulations.gov and
information on the location and hours of
the reading room). You may request
paper copies of the evaluations by
calling or writing to the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT. Please refer to the titles of the
evaluations when requesting copies.
1 OIE (2008). Risk Analysis. In, Terrestrial Animal
Health Code, 17th edition. Paris, World
Organization for Animal Health: Chapter 2.2 on
Import Risk Analysis; Chapter 10.4 on Avian
Influenza. To view the document on the Internet,
go to https://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mcode/
A_summry.htm?e1d11.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of
December 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8–31210 Filed 12–31–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders
on the Establishment of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture at the
Department of Agriculture
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public comment
period for written stakeholder input.
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is requesting written
stakeholder input on the establishment
of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (Institute) at the Department
of Agriculture (USDA). The
establishment of the Institute is
mandated in section 251(f) of the
Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6971(f)) as added by section 7511(a)(4)
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy
Act (FCEA) of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–246).
All programs and authorities currently
delegated to CSREES will transfer to the
Institute, no later than October 1, 2009.
By this notice, CSREES has been
designated to act on behalf of the
Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) in
soliciting public comment from
interested parties regarding the
establishment of the Institute.
DATES: All written comments must be
received by Friday, February 6, 2009, to
be considered.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by CSREES–2008–0004, by
any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: Institute@csrees.usda.gov.
Include CSREES–2008–0004 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 720–0289.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM
submissions should be submitted to:
Judy Rude; Communications Staff;
Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; U.S. Department
of Agriculture; Mail Stop 2201; 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.;
Washington, DC 20250–2201.
E:\FR\FM\02JAN1.SGM
02JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 2009 / Notices
Hand Delivery/Courier: Judy Rude;
Communications Staff; Cooperative
State Research, Education, and
Extension Service; U.S. Department of
Agriculture; Room 4236; Waterfront
Centre; 800 9th Street, SW.;
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the title ‘‘Institute’’ and
CSREES–2008–0004. All comments
received will be posted to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy
Rude, (202) 720–4242 (phone), (202)
690–0289 (fax), or
Institute@csrees.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Comment Procedures
Descriptions of the principles guiding
deliberations relative to establishing the
Institute are available for review at
https://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/
pdfs/Scientists,%20Educators,%20and
%20Stakeholders%20Letter.pdf.
Written comments must be received by
close of business, Friday, February 6,
2009, to be considered. All comments,
when they become available, may be
reviewed on the CSREES Web page for
six months.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Background and Purpose
The establishment of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture is
mandated in section 251(f) of the
Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6971(f)), as added to section 7511(a)(4)
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy
Act (FCEA) of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–246).
The Secretary shall transfer to the
Institute, effective not later than October
1, 2009, the authorities (including all
budget authorities, available
appropriations, and personnel), duties,
obligations, and related legal and
administrative functions prescribed by
law or otherwise granted to the
Secretary, the Department, or any other
agency or official of the Department
under capacity and infrastructure
programs; competitive programs; the
research, education, economic,
cooperative State research programs,
cooperative extension and education
programs, international programs, and
other functions and authorities
delegated by the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics
(Under Secretary for REE) to the
Administrator of CSREES pursuant to
section 2.66 of title 7, Code of Federal
Regulations (or successor regulations);
and any and all other authorities
administered by the Administrator of
CSREES. The terms ‘‘capacity and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:23 Dec 31, 2008
Jkt 217001
infrastructure programs’’ and
‘‘competitive programs’’ are defined in
section 251(f)(1) (7 U.S.C.6971(f)(1)).
The Institute shall be headed by a
Director, who shall be an individual
who is a distinguished scientist and
appointed by the President. The
Secretary has determined that the
Director shall report to the Under
Secretary for REE, who also holds the
title of Chief Scientist of USDA and is
responsible for the coordination of
research, education, and extension
activities of USDA. The Director shall
serve for a 6-year term, subject to
reappointment for an additional 6-year
term; periodically report to the Under
Secretary for REE with respect to
activities carried out by the Institute;
and consult regularly with the Under
Secretary for REE to ensure, to the
maximum extent practicable, that
research of the Institute is relevant to
agriculture in the United States and
otherwise serves the national interest;
and that the research of the Institute
supplements and enhances, and does
not supplant, research conducted or
funded by other Federal agencies. The
Director shall exercise all of the
authority provided to the Institute by
section 251(f) (7 U.S.C. 6971(f));
formulate and administer programs in
accordance with policies adopted by the
Institute, in coordination with the
Under Secretary for REE; establish
offices within the Institute; establish
procedures for the provision and
administration of grants by the Institute;
and consult regularly with the National
Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory
Board.
The Director shall organize offices
and functions within the Institute to
administer fundamental and applied
research and extension and education
programs. The Director shall ensure the
research priorities established by the
Under Secretary for REE through the
Research, Education and Extension
Office are carried out by the offices and
functions of the Institute, where
applicable. Per 7 U.S.C. 6971(e)(1), the
Under Secretary for REE is required to
organize within the Office of the Under
Secretary for REE six Divisions, to be
known collectively as the ‘Research,
Education, and Extension Office’, which
shall coordinate the research programs
and activities of the Department.
The Director shall determine an
appropriate balance between
fundamental and applied research
programs and functions to ensure future
research needs are met and designate
staff, as appropriate, to assist in carrying
out this function. The Director shall
promote the use and growth of grants
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
71
awarded through a competitive process
and designate staff, as appropriate, to
assist in carrying out this function.
Finally, the Director shall ensure that
the offices and functions established
within the Institute are effectively
coordinated for maximum efficiency.
Implementation Plans
CSREES plans to consider stakeholder
input received from written comments
in developing a proposed organization
for approval by USDA and with an
implementation date of not later than
October 1, 2009.
Done at Washington, DC, this 29th day of
December, 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service.
[FR Doc. E8–31258 Filed 12–31–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District;
Deschutes National Forest; Oregon;
Kapka Butte Sno-Park Construction
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service,
will prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) on a proposed action to
construct a sno-park, designate
motorized and non-motorized oversnow trails to link the parking facility to
existing snowmobile and nordic trail
systems, and designate new over-snow
dog-friendly snowshoe and skier trails
to enhance recreational opportunities
from the new facility. The proposed
sno-park would be located on National
Forest lands between Kapka Butte and
the junction of Forest Road 46 (Cascade
Lakes Highway) and Forest Road 45
(Sunriver cutoff). The proposed snopark area is located about 30 miles west
of Bend, Oregon; it is located in Section
35, Township 18S, Range 9E. The
alternatives will include the proposed
action, no action, and additional
alternatives that respond to issues
generated through the scoping process.
The agency will give notice of the full
environmental analysis and decision
making process so interested and
affected people may participate and
contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by 30
days following the date that this notice
appears in the Federal Register.
E:\FR\FM\02JAN1.SGM
02JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 1 (Friday, January 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70-71]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31258]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on the Establishment of
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture at the Department of
Agriculture
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public comment period for written stakeholder input.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is requesting written stakeholder input on the
establishment of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(Institute) at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The establishment
of the Institute is mandated in section 251(f) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(f)) as added by
section 7511(a)(4) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (FCEA) of
2008 (Pub. L. 110-246). All programs and authorities currently
delegated to CSREES will transfer to the Institute, no later than
October 1, 2009. By this notice, CSREES has been designated to act on
behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) in soliciting public
comment from interested parties regarding the establishment of the
Institute.
DATES: All written comments must be received by Friday, February 6,
2009, to be considered.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by CSREES-2008-0004, by
any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: Institute@csrees.usda.gov. Include CSREES-2008-0004 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 720-0289.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to:
Judy Rude; Communications Staff; Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Mail Stop 2201;
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-2201.
[[Page 71]]
Hand Delivery/Courier: Judy Rude; Communications Staff; Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of
Agriculture; Room 4236; Waterfront Centre; 800 9th Street, SW.;
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the title
``Institute'' and CSREES-2008-0004. All comments received will be
posted to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy Rude, (202) 720-4242 (phone),
(202) 690-0289 (fax), or Institute@csrees.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Comment Procedures
Descriptions of the principles guiding deliberations relative to
establishing the Institute are available for review at https://
www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/pdfs/
Scientists,%20Educators,%20and%20Stakeholders%20Letter.pdf. Written
comments must be received by close of business, Friday, February 6,
2009, to be considered. All comments, when they become available, may
be reviewed on the CSREES Web page for six months.
Background and Purpose
The establishment of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
is mandated in section 251(f) of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(f)), as added to section
7511(a)(4) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008
(Pub. L. 110-246). The Secretary shall transfer to the Institute,
effective not later than October 1, 2009, the authorities (including
all budget authorities, available appropriations, and personnel),
duties, obligations, and related legal and administrative functions
prescribed by law or otherwise granted to the Secretary, the
Department, or any other agency or official of the Department under
capacity and infrastructure programs; competitive programs; the
research, education, economic, cooperative State research programs,
cooperative extension and education programs, international programs,
and other functions and authorities delegated by the Under Secretary
for Research, Education, and Economics (Under Secretary for REE) to the
Administrator of CSREES pursuant to section 2.66 of title 7, Code of
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and any and all other
authorities administered by the Administrator of CSREES. The terms
``capacity and infrastructure programs'' and ``competitive programs''
are defined in section 251(f)(1) (7 U.S.C.6971(f)(1)).
The Institute shall be headed by a Director, who shall be an
individual who is a distinguished scientist and appointed by the
President. The Secretary has determined that the Director shall report
to the Under Secretary for REE, who also holds the title of Chief
Scientist of USDA and is responsible for the coordination of research,
education, and extension activities of USDA. The Director shall serve
for a 6-year term, subject to reappointment for an additional 6-year
term; periodically report to the Under Secretary for REE with respect
to activities carried out by the Institute; and consult regularly with
the Under Secretary for REE to ensure, to the maximum extent
practicable, that research of the Institute is relevant to agriculture
in the United States and otherwise serves the national interest; and
that the research of the Institute supplements and enhances, and does
not supplant, research conducted or funded by other Federal agencies.
The Director shall exercise all of the authority provided to the
Institute by section 251(f) (7 U.S.C. 6971(f)); formulate and
administer programs in accordance with policies adopted by the
Institute, in coordination with the Under Secretary for REE; establish
offices within the Institute; establish procedures for the provision
and administration of grants by the Institute; and consult regularly
with the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board.
The Director shall organize offices and functions within the
Institute to administer fundamental and applied research and extension
and education programs. The Director shall ensure the research
priorities established by the Under Secretary for REE through the
Research, Education and Extension Office are carried out by the offices
and functions of the Institute, where applicable. Per 7 U.S.C.
6971(e)(1), the Under Secretary for REE is required to organize within
the Office of the Under Secretary for REE six Divisions, to be known
collectively as the `Research, Education, and Extension Office', which
shall coordinate the research programs and activities of the
Department.
The Director shall determine an appropriate balance between
fundamental and applied research programs and functions to ensure
future research needs are met and designate staff, as appropriate, to
assist in carrying out this function. The Director shall promote the
use and growth of grants awarded through a competitive process and
designate staff, as appropriate, to assist in carrying out this
function. Finally, the Director shall ensure that the offices and
functions established within the Institute are effectively coordinated
for maximum efficiency.
Implementation Plans
CSREES plans to consider stakeholder input received from written
comments in developing a proposed organization for approval by USDA and
with an implementation date of not later than October 1, 2009.
Done at Washington, DC, this 29th day of December, 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-31258 Filed 12-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
