Notice of Availability of Proposed Changes to the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Standards, 13469-13470 [2018-06341]

Download as PDF 13469 Notices Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 61 Thursday, March 29, 2018 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–2018–0011] Notice of Availability of Proposed Changes to the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Standards Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we are making available for review and comment a revised version of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program Standards. The CWD Program Standards provide guidance on how to meet CWD Herd Certification Program and interstate movement requirements. We are taking this action to address concerns of State and industry participants about the existing standards. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 30, 2018. SUMMARY: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docket Detail;D=APHIS-2018-0011. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2018–0011, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov/#!docket Detail;D=APHIS-2018-0011 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 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 28, 2018 Jkt 244001 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. Tracy Nichols, Staff Officer, Cervid Health Team, Surveillance, Preparedness, and Response Services, VS, APHIS, USDA, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg. B, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494–7380. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids (members of Cervidae, the deer family). Species currently known to be susceptible to CWD include elk, mule deer, moose, white-tailed deer, sika deer, muntjac, reindeer, and black-tailed deer. In 2014, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) implemented the National CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP), a voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by APHIS and implemented by participating States. Currently, 28 States participate in the program. States and herd owners choosing to participate must comply with the provisions of 9 CFR parts 55 and 81 (referred to below as the regulations), which include requirements for animal identification, interstate movement, fencing, recordkeeping, herd inspections and inventories, animal mortality testing, and response to any findings of CWDexposed, -suspect, or -positive herds. APHIS monitors the approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with Federal standards by means of annual State reporting. With each year of successful surveillance, participating herds will advance in status. After 5 years with no evidence of CWD, APHIS will certify the herd as being low risk for CWD. Only captive cervids from enrolled herds certified as low risk for CWD may move interstate. The CWD Program Standards provide detailed guidance on how to meet the regulatory requirements referred to above. An annual review of the Program Standards is conducted by APHIS in collaboration with State agencies and industry representatives. In response to concerns expressed by industry and State partners about the existing CWD Program Standards, published in 2014, we convened a working group in 2016 to review the PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 document. Based on the group’s discussions, as well as recommendations from an internal review, we determined that the Program Standards needed to undergo a number of revisions. We are advising the public that we have prepared a revised version of the CWD Program Standards. The proposed revisions include the following: • Revising the goal statement to focus on reducing the risk of interstate transmission of CWD. • Clarifying that the Program Standards include detailed descriptions of suggested methods approved by the APHIS Administrator to meet the regulatory requirements. • Making definitions of terms in the Program Standards consistent with the official definitions in the regulations. • Describing APHIS’ intent to amend the regulations to define susceptible species based on scientific evidence of natural infection or experimental infections through natural routes and adding the genera Rangifer and Muntiacus to the list of susceptible species. • Providing support for implementing antemortem immunohistochemistry testing of rectal anal mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) and medial retropharyngeal lymph node (MRPLN) biopsies conducted as a whole-herd test concurrently with genotyping at Prion Protein Gene (PRNP) codon 96 in whitetailed deer in traceback, traceforward, and CWD-exposed herds and for disease management in CWD-positive herds. • Providing support for initiating pilot projects using RAMALT and MRPLN biopsies conducted concurrently with genotyping at PRNP codon 132 in elk in traceback, traceforward, and CWD-exposed herds and for disease management in CWDpositive herds to inform decisions about testing protocols. • Clarifying the definitions and processes for performing epidemiological investigations. • Replacing Appendix VI with a worksheet that States must submit for all positive herds enrolled in the HCP as part of their annual HCP report. Additionally, for any herd for which Federal indemnity is to be paid, a preliminary and final worksheet must have been completed as part of the herd plan by a State representative. • Describing the factors that APHIS will consider when making decisions E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1 13470 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2018 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES about providing indemnity for CWDpositive, -exposed, and -suspect animals and describing the relative priority of each factor. • Clarifying the consequences of poor quality and missing post-mortem surveillance samples on herd status, as well as describing options States may consider as substitutions for these samples. • Making the Program Standards language consistent with that of the regulations by requiring CWD testing of all mortalities from certified herds, including at slaughter and on hunt facilities when animals remain under the same ownership. • Streamlining the description of fencing characteristics considered necessary to prevent ingress and egress of cervids for HCP-enrolled herds. • Eliminating Appendix II: Fencing Requirements and References, and making these scientific references available upon request. • Moving Part B, Section 5: Sanitary Precautions and Biosecurity Practices for Herd Plans and Depopulations to an appendix, and simplifying recommendations for premises decontamination. • Updating and streamlining Appendix IV: Guidelines for Environmental Contamination. • Consolidating the discussion of carcass disposal options in the main body of the Program Standards and deleting Appendix V: Carcass Disposal. The revised Program Standards may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website or in our reading room. (Instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room are provided under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice.) The documents are also available by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 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. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301–8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of March 2018. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2018–06341 Filed 3–28–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 28, 2018 Jkt 244001 COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Notice of Public Meetings of the Indiana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Announcement of meetings. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act that the Indiana Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold public meetings on: Monday April 16th at 4 p.m. Eastern time; Wednesday May 9 at 3 p.m. Eastern time; and Monday May 21 at 4 p.m. Eastern time. The purpose of these meetings is to prepare to release a public report on voting rights in the state. SUMMARY: The meetings will be held on: • Monday April 16, 2018 at 4 pm Eastern time; • Wednesday May 9, 2018 at 3 pm Eastern time; and • Monday May 21, 2018 at 4 pm Eastern time. Public Call Information: Dial: 888– 224–1065, Conference ID: 1818955. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Wojnaroski, DFO, at mwojnaroski@usccr.gov or 312–353– 8311. DATES: Members of the public can listen to the discussion. These meetings are available to the public through the above listed toll free number. Any interested member of the public may call this number and listen to the meetings. An open comment period will be provided during each meeting to allow members of the public to make a statement as time allows. The conference call operator will ask callers to identify themselves, the organization they are affiliated with (if any), and an email address prior to placing callers into the conference room. Callers can expect to incur regular charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, according to their wireless plan. The Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Callers will incur no charge for calls they initiate over land-line connections to the toll-free telephone number. Persons with hearing impairments may also follow the proceedings by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1– 800–877–8339 and providing the Service with the conference call number and conference ID number. Members of the public are also entitled to submit written comments; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the comments must be received in the regional office within 30 days following the meeting. Written comments may be mailed to the Regional Programs Unit Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 55 W. Monroe St., Suite 410, Chicago, IL 60615. They may also be faxed to the Commission at (312) 353–8324, or emailed to Carolyn Allen at callen@ usccr.gov. Persons who desire additional information may contact the Regional Programs Unit Office at (312) 353–8311. Records generated from these meetings may be inspected and reproduced at the Regional Programs Unit Office, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Records of the meeting will be available via www.facadatabase.gov under the Commission on Civil Rights, Indiana Advisory Committee link (https:// www.facadatabase.gov/committee/ meetings.aspx?cid=247). Persons interested in the work of this Committee are directed to the Commission’s website, https://www.usccr.gov, or may contact the Regional Programs Unit Office at the above email or street address. Agenda: Welcome and Roll Call Discussion: Voting Rights in Indiana Public Comment Future Plans and Actions Adjournment Dated: March 26, 2018. David Mussatt, Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. [FR Doc. 2018–06352 Filed 3–28–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Notice of Public Meeting of the Oregon Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Announcement of meeting. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act that the Oregon Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold a meeting via web conference on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, from 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. PST for the purpose of hearing public testimony on human trafficking issues in the state. DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. PST. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13469-13470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06341]


========================================================================
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. 83, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 13469]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011]


Notice of Availability of Proposed Changes to the Chronic Wasting 
Disease Herd Certification Program Standards

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are making available for 
review and comment a revised version of the Chronic Wasting Disease 
(CWD) Herd Certification Program Standards. The CWD Program Standards 
provide guidance on how to meet CWD Herd Certification Program and 
interstate movement requirements. We are taking this action to address 
concerns of State and industry participants about the existing 
standards.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0011.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-
0011 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. Tracy Nichols, Staff Officer, 
Cervid Health Team, Surveillance, Preparedness, and Response Services, 
VS, APHIS, USDA, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg. B, Fort Collins, CO 80526; 
(970) 494-7380.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform 
encephalopathy of cervids (members of Cervidae, the deer family). 
Species currently known to be susceptible to CWD include elk, mule 
deer, moose, white-tailed deer, sika deer, muntjac, reindeer, and 
black-tailed deer.
    In 2014, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
implemented the National CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP), a 
voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by 
APHIS and implemented by participating States. Currently, 28 States 
participate in the program. States and herd owners choosing to 
participate must comply with the provisions of 9 CFR parts 55 and 81 
(referred to below as the regulations), which include requirements for 
animal identification, interstate movement, fencing, recordkeeping, 
herd inspections and inventories, animal mortality testing, and 
response to any findings of CWD-exposed, -suspect, or -positive herds. 
APHIS monitors the approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with 
Federal standards by means of annual State reporting. With each year of 
successful surveillance, participating herds will advance in status. 
After 5 years with no evidence of CWD, APHIS will certify the herd as 
being low risk for CWD. Only captive cervids from enrolled herds 
certified as low risk for CWD may move interstate.
    The CWD Program Standards provide detailed guidance on how to meet 
the regulatory requirements referred to above. An annual review of the 
Program Standards is conducted by APHIS in collaboration with State 
agencies and industry representatives.
    In response to concerns expressed by industry and State partners 
about the existing CWD Program Standards, published in 2014, we 
convened a working group in 2016 to review the document. Based on the 
group's discussions, as well as recommendations from an internal 
review, we determined that the Program Standards needed to undergo a 
number of revisions.
    We are advising the public that we have prepared a revised version 
of the CWD Program Standards. The proposed revisions include the 
following:
     Revising the goal statement to focus on reducing the risk 
of interstate transmission of CWD.
     Clarifying that the Program Standards include detailed 
descriptions of suggested methods approved by the APHIS Administrator 
to meet the regulatory requirements.
     Making definitions of terms in the Program Standards 
consistent with the official definitions in the regulations.
     Describing APHIS' intent to amend the regulations to 
define susceptible species based on scientific evidence of natural 
infection or experimental infections through natural routes and adding 
the genera Rangifer and Muntiacus to the list of susceptible species.
     Providing support for implementing antemortem 
immunohistochemistry testing of rectal anal mucosa associated lymphoid 
tissue (RAMALT) and medial retropharyngeal lymph node (MRPLN) biopsies 
conducted as a whole-herd test concurrently with genotyping at Prion 
Protein Gene (PRNP) codon 96 in white-tailed deer in traceback, 
traceforward, and CWD-exposed herds and for disease management in CWD-
positive herds.
     Providing support for initiating pilot projects using 
RAMALT and MRPLN biopsies conducted concurrently with genotyping at 
PRNP codon 132 in elk in traceback, traceforward, and CWD-exposed herds 
and for disease management in CWD-positive herds to inform decisions 
about testing protocols.
     Clarifying the definitions and processes for performing 
epidemiological investigations.
     Replacing Appendix VI with a worksheet that States must 
submit for all positive herds enrolled in the HCP as part of their 
annual HCP report. Additionally, for any herd for which Federal 
indemnity is to be paid, a preliminary and final worksheet must have 
been completed as part of the herd plan by a State representative.
     Describing the factors that APHIS will consider when 
making decisions

[[Page 13470]]

about providing indemnity for CWD-positive, -exposed, and -suspect 
animals and describing the relative priority of each factor.
     Clarifying the consequences of poor quality and missing 
post-mortem surveillance samples on herd status, as well as describing 
options States may consider as substitutions for these samples.
     Making the Program Standards language consistent with that 
of the regulations by requiring CWD testing of all mortalities from 
certified herds, including at slaughter and on hunt facilities when 
animals remain under the same ownership.
     Streamlining the description of fencing characteristics 
considered necessary to prevent ingress and egress of cervids for HCP-
enrolled herds.
     Eliminating Appendix II: Fencing Requirements and 
References, and making these scientific references available upon 
request.
     Moving Part B, Section 5: Sanitary Precautions and 
Biosecurity Practices for Herd Plans and Depopulations to an appendix, 
and simplifying recommendations for premises decontamination.
     Updating and streamlining Appendix IV: Guidelines for 
Environmental Contamination.
     Consolidating the discussion of carcass disposal options 
in the main body of the Program Standards and deleting Appendix V: 
Carcass Disposal.
    The revised Program Standards may be viewed on the Regulations.gov 
website or in our reading room. (Instructions for accessing 
Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the 
reading room are provided under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning 
of this notice.) The documents are also available by contacting the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    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.

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

    Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of March 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-06341 Filed 3-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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