Notice of Availability of Proposed Changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards, 45121-45122 [2016-16460]

Download as PDF 45121 Notices Federal Register Vol. 81, No. 133 Tuesday, July 12, 2016 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0013] Notice of Availability of Proposed Changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0041] General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of renewal. AGENCY: We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture has renewed the charter of the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (Committee) for a 2year period. The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Denise L. Brinson, Senior Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094; (770) 922–3496. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (Committee) is to maintain and ensure industry involvement in Federal administration of matters pertaining to poultry health. The Committee Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson shall be elected by the Committee from among its members. There are seven members on the Committee. The poultry industry elects the members of the Committee. The members represent six geographic areas with one member-at-large. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of July 2016. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2016–16461 Filed 7–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 Jul 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 We are advising the public that proposed changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards are available for review and comment. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 11, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docket Detail;D=APHIS–2016–0013. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2016–0013, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. The proposed standards and any comments we receive may be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docket Detail;D=APHIS-2016-0013 or in our reading room, which 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) 799–7039 before coming. SUMMARY: Dr. Denise Brinson, DVM, Senior Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094–5104; (770) 922– 3496. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), also referred to below as ‘‘the Plan,’’ is a cooperative Federal-StateIndustry mechanism for controlling certain poultry diseases. The Plan consists of a variety of programs intended to prevent and control poultry SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 diseases. Participation in all Plan programs is voluntary, but breeding flocks, hatcheries, and dealers must first qualify as ‘‘U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean’’ as a condition for participating in the other Plan programs. The Plan identifies States, flocks, hatcheries, dealers, and slaughter plants that meet certain disease control standards specified in the Plan’s various programs. As a result, customers can buy poultry that has tested clean of certain diseases or that has been produced under disease-prevention conditions. The regulations in 9 CFR parts 56, 145, 146, and 147 (referred to below as the regulations) contain the provisions of the Plan. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) amends these provisions from time to time to incorporate new scientific information and technologies within the Plan. In the past, APHIS has updated the regulations once every 2 years, following the Biennial Plan Conference of the NPIP General Conference Committee. The NPIP General Conference Committee advises the Secretary on poultry health and represents cooperating State agencies and poultry industry members. During its meetings and Biennial Conferences, the Committee discusses significant poultry health issues and makes recommendations to improve the NPIP. However, while changes in diagnostic science, testing technology, and best practices for maintaining sanitation are continual, the rulemaking process can be lengthy. As a result, the regulations have, at times, become outdated. To remedy this problem, we determined that we needed a more flexible process for amending provisions of the Plan. On July 9, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 FR 38752–38768, Docket No. APHIS–2011–0101) a final rule 1 that, among other things, amended the regulations by removing tests and detailed testing procedures, as well as sanitation procedures, from part 147, and making these available in an NPIP Program Standards document.2 The rule 1 To view the final rule and related documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= APHIS-2011-0101. 2 This document may be viewed on the NPIP Web site at https://www.poultryimprovement.org/ E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM Continued 12JYN1 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 45122 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 133 / Tuesday, July 12, 2016 / Notices also amended the regulations to provide for the Program Standards document to be updated through the issuance of a notice in the Federal Register followed by a period of public comment. The latter change was intended to enable us to make the NPIP program more effective by allowing us to update Plan provisions without the need for rulemaking. The Committee recently voted to amend the Program Standards by creating provisions for compartmentalization of primary breeding poultry establishments and approval of compartment components such as farms, feedmills, hatcheries, and egg depots. The urgency of adding such provisions to the Program Standards was reinforced by the devastating highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak of 2014–2015, which highlighted the enormous impact trade restrictions can have on distributing breeding stock to customers around the globe. The regulations at 9 CFR 145.45, 145.74, and 145.84 provide the basis for compartmentalization of poultry primary breeding companies. Compartmentalization is a procedure that a country may implement to define and manage animal subpopulations of distinct health status and common biosecurity program within its territory, in accordance with the guidelines in the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code, for the purpose of disease control and international trade. Compartmentalization is distinct from regionalization, which involves recognition of geographical zones of a country that can be identified and characterized by their level of risk for different diseases, but the two are not mutually exclusive. When regionalization is not feasible, APHIS may seek to preserve trade with key countries in the face of outbreaks of HPAI and other diseases through compartmentalization. Compartmentalization may also enable continued interstate movement of breeding stock to domestic customers and operations if future low pathogenic avian influenza and/or HPAI outbreaks occur. We are advising the public that we have prepared updates to the NPIP Program Standards document. The proposed updates would amend the Program Standards by adding provisions for compartmentalization of primary documents/ProgramStandardsAugust2014.pdf, or by writing to the Service at National Poultry Improvement Plan, APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:30 Jul 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 breeding poultry establishments and approval of compartment components such as farms, feedmills, hatcheries, and egg depots, as recommended by the General Conference Committee. Included in the proposed additions are requirements for applying for compartmentalization of facilities and for facility design and management, as well as an outline of the auditing system APHIS will use to evaluate compartments and their component operations. After reviewing any comments we receive on the proposed updates, we will publish a second notice in the Federal Register announcing our decision regarding the proposed changes. Paperwork Reduction Act In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), we have determined that there are reporting and recordkeeping burdens associated with the compartmentalization provisions we are considering. We will publish a separate document in the Federal Register, announcing our determination of burden and soliciting comments on it. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301–8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of July 2016. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2016–16460 Filed 7–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to revise the Santa Fe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and to prepare an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); correction. AGENCY: ACTION: The Forest Service is correcting the comment due date in a document that published in the Federal Register of June 30, 2016 (81 FR 4261), revising the Land and Resource Management Plan (hereafter referred to as the forest plan) for the Santa Fe National Forest. SUMMARY: Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Jennifer Cramer, Forest Planner, Santa Fe National Forest, 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508. 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. Correction In the Federal Register of June 30, 2016, in FR Doc. 2016–15525, on page 42641, in the first column, correct the ‘‘DATES’’ caption to read: DATES: Comments concerning the Needs for Change and Proposed Action provided in this notice will be most useful in the development of the revised forest plan and draft EIS if received by August 17, 2016. The agency expects to release a draft revised forest plan and draft EIS by summer, 2017 and a final revised forest plan and final EIS by fall, 2018. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1600–1614; 36 CFR part 219 [77 FR 21260–21273]. Dated: July 1, 2016. Joseph S. Norrell, Deputy Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2016–16431 Filed 7–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Southern Arizona Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Southern Arizona Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Tucson, Arizona. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act. RAC information can be found at the following Web site: https://www.fs. usda.gov/main/pts/specialprojects/ racweb. SUMMARY: Revision of Land and Resource Management Plan for the Santa Fe National Forest; Counties of Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Taos, New Mexico; Correction PO 00000 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sfmt 4703 The meeting will be held August 26, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. All RAC meetings are subject to cancellation. For status of meeting prior to attendance, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. DATES: E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM 12JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45121-45122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16460]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0013]


Notice of Availability of Proposed Changes to the National 
Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that proposed changes to the 
National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards are available for 
review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0013.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0013, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    The proposed standards and any comments we receive may be viewed at 
https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0013 or in our 
reading room, which 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) 
799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Denise Brinson, DVM, Senior 
Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, USDA, 1506 
Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094-5104; (770) 922-3496.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Poultry Improvement Plan 
(NPIP), also referred to below as ``the Plan,'' is a cooperative 
Federal-State-Industry mechanism for controlling certain poultry 
diseases. The Plan consists of a variety of programs intended to 
prevent and control poultry diseases. Participation in all Plan 
programs is voluntary, but breeding flocks, hatcheries, and dealers 
must first qualify as ``U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean'' as a condition 
for participating in the other Plan programs.
    The Plan identifies States, flocks, hatcheries, dealers, and 
slaughter plants that meet certain disease control standards specified 
in the Plan's various programs. As a result, customers can buy poultry 
that has tested clean of certain diseases or that has been produced 
under disease-prevention conditions.
    The regulations in 9 CFR parts 56, 145, 146, and 147 (referred to 
below as the regulations) contain the provisions of the Plan. The 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) amends these provisions from time to 
time to incorporate new scientific information and technologies within 
the Plan.
    In the past, APHIS has updated the regulations once every 2 years, 
following the Biennial Plan Conference of the NPIP General Conference 
Committee. The NPIP General Conference Committee advises the Secretary 
on poultry health and represents cooperating State agencies and poultry 
industry members. During its meetings and Biennial Conferences, the 
Committee discusses significant poultry health issues and makes 
recommendations to improve the NPIP.
    However, while changes in diagnostic science, testing technology, 
and best practices for maintaining sanitation are continual, the 
rulemaking process can be lengthy. As a result, the regulations have, 
at times, become outdated. To remedy this problem, we determined that 
we needed a more flexible process for amending provisions of the Plan. 
On July 9, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 FR 38752-
38768, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0101) a final rule \1\ that, among other 
things, amended the regulations by removing tests and detailed testing 
procedures, as well as sanitation procedures, from part 147, and making 
these available in an NPIP Program Standards document.\2\ The rule

[[Page 45122]]

also amended the regulations to provide for the Program Standards 
document to be updated through the issuance of a notice in the Federal 
Register followed by a period of public comment. The latter change was 
intended to enable us to make the NPIP program more effective by 
allowing us to update Plan provisions without the need for rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the final rule and related documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0101.
    \2\ This document may be viewed on the NPIP Web site at https://www.poultryimprovement.org/documents/ProgramStandardsAugust2014.pdf, 
or by writing to the Service at National Poultry Improvement Plan, 
APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee recently voted to amend the Program Standards by 
creating provisions for compartmentalization of primary breeding 
poultry establishments and approval of compartment components such as 
farms, feedmills, hatcheries, and egg depots. The urgency of adding 
such provisions to the Program Standards was reinforced by the 
devastating highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak of 2014-
2015, which highlighted the enormous impact trade restrictions can have 
on distributing breeding stock to customers around the globe.
    The regulations at 9 CFR 145.45, 145.74, and 145.84 provide the 
basis for compartmentalization of poultry primary breeding companies. 
Compartmentalization is a procedure that a country may implement to 
define and manage animal subpopulations of distinct health status and 
common biosecurity program within its territory, in accordance with the 
guidelines in the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code, for the purpose of disease control and 
international trade. Compartmentalization is distinct from 
regionalization, which involves recognition of geographical zones of a 
country that can be identified and characterized by their level of risk 
for different diseases, but the two are not mutually exclusive. When 
regionalization is not feasible, APHIS may seek to preserve trade with 
key countries in the face of outbreaks of HPAI and other diseases 
through compartmentalization. Compartmentalization may also enable 
continued interstate movement of breeding stock to domestic customers 
and operations if future low pathogenic avian influenza and/or HPAI 
outbreaks occur.
    We are advising the public that we have prepared updates to the 
NPIP Program Standards document. The proposed updates would amend the 
Program Standards by adding provisions for compartmentalization of 
primary breeding poultry establishments and approval of compartment 
components such as farms, feedmills, hatcheries, and egg depots, as 
recommended by the General Conference Committee. Included in the 
proposed additions are requirements for applying for 
compartmentalization of facilities and for facility design and 
management, as well as an outline of the auditing system APHIS will use 
to evaluate compartments and their component operations.
    After reviewing any comments we receive on the proposed updates, we 
will publish a second notice in the Federal Register announcing our 
decision regarding the proposed changes.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), we have determined that there are 
reporting and recordkeeping burdens associated with the 
compartmentalization provisions we are considering. We will publish a 
separate document in the Federal Register, announcing our determination 
of burden and soliciting comments on it.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301-8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of July 2016.
 Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-16460 Filed 7-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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