Addition of Scotland to the List of Regions Classified as Having Controlled Risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, 38589-38590 [2019-16902]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 7, 2019 / Notices
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(DHA), from oleic acid in canola seed.
The canola has also been genetically
engineered for resistance to an
imidazolinone herbicide. The BASF
petition states that information collected
during field trials and laboratory
analyses indicates that LBFLFK canola
is not likely to be a plant pest and
therefore should not be a regulated
article under APHIS’ regulations in 7
CFR part 340.
According to our process 1 for
soliciting public comment when
considering petitions for determinations
of nonregulated status of GE organisms,
APHIS accepts written comments
regarding a petition once APHIS deems
it complete. In a notice 2 published in
the Federal Register on March 30, 2018
(83 FR 13722–13723, Docket No.
APHIS–2018–0014), APHIS announced
the availability of the BASF petition for
public comment. APHIS solicited
comments on the petition for 60 days
ending on May 29, 2018, in order to
help identify potential environmental
and interrelated economic issues and
impacts that APHIS may determine
should be considered in our evaluation
of the petition.
APHIS received eight comments on
the petition. Three of the comments
were from individuals, three were from
the canola industry, one was from a
public interest group, and one was from
a State government. APHIS evaluated
the issues raised during the comment
period and, where appropriate,
provided a discussion of those issues in
our draft environmental assessment
(EA).
APHIS decided, based on its review of
the petition and its evaluation and
analysis of the comments received
during the 60-day public comment
period on the petition, that the petition
involves a GE organism that raises
substantive new issues. According to
our public review process for such
petitions (see footnote 1), APHIS is
following Approach 2, where we first
solicit written comments from the
public on a draft EA and a draft plant
pest risk assessment (PPRA) for a 30-day
comment period through the
publication of a Federal Register notice.
Then, after reviewing and evaluating the
comments on the draft EA and the draft
1 On March 6, 2012, we published in the Federal
Register (77 FR 13258–13260, Docket No. APHIS–
2011–0129) a notice describing our process for
soliciting public comments and information when
considering petitions for determinations of
nonregulated status for GE organisms (see https://
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129).
2 To view the notice, the petition, and the
comments we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2018-0014.
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16:49 Aug 06, 2019
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PPRA and other information, APHIS
revises the draft PPRA as necessary and
prepares a final EA and, based on the
final EA, a National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) finding document
(either a finding of no significant impact
(FONSI) or a notice of intent to prepare
an environmental impact statement). If
a FONSI is reached, APHIS furnishes a
response to the petitioner, either
approving or denying the petition.
APHIS also publishes a notice in the
Federal Register announcing the
regulatory status of the GE organism and
the availability of APHIS’ final EA,
PPRA, FONSI, and our regulatory
determination.
APHIS sought public comment on a
draft EA and draft PPRA from April 4,
2019, to May 6, 2019.3 APHIS solicited
comments on those documents and
whether the subject canola is likely to
pose a plant pest risk. APHIS received
three comments on the petition and
supporting documents, one of which
opposed and two of which supported a
decision of nonregulated status for
LBFLFK canola. Those comments are
addressed in our final EA.
National Environmental Policy Act
After reviewing and evaluating the
comments received during the comment
period on the draft EA and draft PPRA
and other information, APHIS has
prepared a final EA. The EA has been
prepared to provide the public with
documentation of APHIS’ review and
analysis of any potential environmental
impacts associated with the
determination of nonregulated status of
LBFLFK canola. The EA was prepared
in accordance with: (1) NEPA, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2)
regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality for
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3)
USDA regulations implementing NEPA
(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372). Based on our EA, the response to
public comments, and other pertinent
scientific data, APHIS has reached a
FONSI with regard to the preferred
alternative identified in the EA (to make
a determination of nonregulated status
of LBFLFK canola).
Determination
Based on APHIS’ analysis of field and
laboratory data submitted by BASF,
references provided in the petition,
peer-reviewed publications, information
analyzed in the EA, the PPRA,
comments provided by the public, and
information provided in APHIS’
3 84
PO 00000
FR 13243–13244.
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38589
response to those public comments,
APHIS has determined that LBFLFK
canola is unlikely to pose a plant pest
risk and therefore is no longer subject to
our regulations governing the
introduction of certain GE organisms.
Copies of the signed determination
document, PPRA, final EA, FONSI, and
response to comments, as well as the
previously published petition and
supporting documents, are available as
indicated in the ADDRESSES and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections
of this notice.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 1st day of
August 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–16921 Filed 8–6–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2018–0095]
Addition of Scotland to the List of
Regions Classified as Having
Controlled Risk for Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that we have added Scotland, a region
within the United Kingdom, to our list
of regions classified as having
controlled risk for bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) and have
removed Scotland from our list of
regions considered negligible risk for
BSE. We are taking this action because
of the confirmation of classical C-type
BSE in an indigenous cow in Scotland.
DATES: The case of BSE in Scotland was
confirmed on October 18, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Rebecca Gordon, Import Risk Analyst,
Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 920
Main Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh,
NC 27606; (919) 855–7741; email:
Rebecca.K.Gordon@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The regulations in 9 CFR part 92
subpart B, ‘‘Importation of Animals and
Animal Products; Procedures for
Requesting BSE Risk Status
Classification With Regard To Bovines’’
(referred to below as the regulations), set
forth the process by which the Animal
SUMMARY:
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jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
38590
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 7, 2019 / Notices
and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) classifies regions for bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk.
Section 92.5 of the regulations provides
that all countries of the world are
considered by APHIS to be in one of
three BSE risk categories: Negligible
risk, controlled risk, or undetermined
risk. These risk categories are defined in
§ 92.1. Any region that is not classified
by APHIS as presenting either negligible
risk or controlled risk for BSE is
considered to present an undetermined
risk. The list of those regions classified
by APHIS as having either negligible
risk or controlled risk can be accessed
on the APHIS website at https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/
animalhealth/animal-and-animalproduct-import-information/animalhealth-status-of-regions. The list can
also be obtained by writing to APHIS at
Strategy and Policy, 4700 River Road
Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737.
Under § 92.5(c)(2) of the regulations,
if APHIS at any time determines that a
region no longer meets the criteria for
the risk classification it had previously
received, APHIS will remove the region
from its list of regions so classified. If
the World Organization for Animal
Health (OIE) determines the region no
longer meets the criteria for the risk
classification it had previously received,
APHIS may concur with the OIE
determination or may request updated
information from the region and
determine whether to concur with the
OIE decision.
On October 19, 2018, the veterinary
authority of the United Kingdom
reported that Scotland had a case of
classical C-type BSE in a 5 year-old
indigenous cow; the BSE case was
confirmed on October 18, 2018. As a
result of this finding, the OIE suspended
Scotland’s negligible risk status effective
October 2, 2018.
Therefore, in accordance with the
regulations in § 92.5(c)(2) and in
concurrence with the OIE’s suspension
of Scotland’s negligible risk status, we
have removed Scotland from our list of
regions considered to be negligible risk
for BSE and added Scotland to the list
of regions classified by APHIS as having
controlled risk for BSE.
Pursuant to the Congressional Review
Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs
designated this rule as not a major rule,
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301–8317;
21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:49 Aug 06, 2019
Jkt 247001
Done in Washington, DC, this 31st day of
July 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–16902 Filed 8–6–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
National School Lunch, Special Milk,
and School Breakfast Programs,
National Average Payments/Maximum
Reimbursement Rates
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This Notice announces the
annual adjustments to the national
average payments, the amount of money
the Federal Government provides States
for lunches, afterschool snacks, and
breakfasts served to children
participating in the National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Programs;
to the maximum reimbursement rates,
the maximum per lunch rate from
Federal funds that a State can provide
a school food authority for lunches
served to children participating in the
National School Lunch Program; and to
the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint
of milk served to non-needy children in
a school or institution that participates
in the Special Milk Program for
Children. The annual payments and
rates adjustments for the National
School Lunch and School Breakfast
Programs reflect changes in the Food
Away From Home series of the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers. The annual rate adjustment
for the Special Milk Program reflects
changes in the Producer Price Index for
Fluid Milk Products. Further
adjustments are made to these rates to
reflect higher costs of providing meals
in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The
payments and rates are prescribed on an
annual basis each July.
Overall, reimbursement rates this year
for the National School Lunch, Breakfast
Programs and the Special Milk Program
either remained the same or increased
compared to last year. Of note, the
performance-based reimbursement for
lunches certified as meeting the meal
pattern increased from 6 cents to 7
cents.
DATES: These rates are effective from
July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jessica Saracino, Branch Chief, Program
Monitoring and Operational Support
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Division, Child Nutrition Programs,
Food and Nutrition Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, VA
22302–1594.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Special Milk Program for Children—
Pursuant to section 3 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
U.S.C. 1772), the Department announces
the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint
of milk served to non-needy children in
a school or institution that participates
in the Special Milk Program for
Children. This rate is adjusted annually
to reflect changes in the Producer Price
Index for Fluid Milk Products,
published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the Department of Labor.
National School Lunch and School
Breakfast Programs—Pursuant to
sections 11 and 17A of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act, (42
U.S.C. 1759a and 1766a), and section 4
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1773), the Department annually
announces the adjustments to the
National Average Payment Factors and
to the maximum Federal reimbursement
rates for lunches and afterschool snacks
served to children participating in the
National School Lunch Program and
breakfasts served to children
participating in the School Breakfast
Program. Adjustments are prescribed
each July 1, based on changes in the
Food Away From Home series of the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers, published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department of
Labor.
Lunch Payment Levels—Section 4 of
the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753) provides
general cash for food assistance
payments to States to assist schools in
purchasing food. The Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act provides
two different section 4 payment levels
for lunches served under the National
School Lunch Program. The lower
payment level applies to lunches served
by school food authorities in which less
than 60 percent of the lunches served in
the school lunch program during the
second preceding school year were
served free or at a reduced price. The
higher payment level applies to lunches
served by school food authorities in
which 60 percent or more of the lunches
served during the second preceding
school year were served free or at a
reduced price.
To supplement these section 4
payments, section 11 of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C.1759 (a)) provides special cash
E:\FR\FM\07AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38589-38590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16902]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0095]
Addition of Scotland to the List of Regions Classified as Having
Controlled Risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have added Scotland, a
region within the United Kingdom, to our list of regions classified as
having controlled risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and
have removed Scotland from our list of regions considered negligible
risk for BSE. We are taking this action because of the confirmation of
classical C-type BSE in an indigenous cow in Scotland.
DATES: The case of BSE in Scotland was confirmed on October 18, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Rebecca Gordon, Import Risk
Analyst, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Suite
200, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 855-7741; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The regulations in 9 CFR part 92 subpart B, ``Importation of
Animals and Animal Products; Procedures for Requesting BSE Risk Status
Classification With Regard To Bovines'' (referred to below as the
regulations), set forth the process by which the Animal
[[Page 38590]]
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) classifies regions for
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk. Section 92.5 of the
regulations provides that all countries of the world are considered by
APHIS to be in one of three BSE risk categories: Negligible risk,
controlled risk, or undetermined risk. These risk categories are
defined in Sec. 92.1. Any region that is not classified by APHIS as
presenting either negligible risk or controlled risk for BSE is
considered to present an undetermined risk. The list of those regions
classified by APHIS as having either negligible risk or controlled risk
can be accessed on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions. The list can also be
obtained by writing to APHIS at Strategy and Policy, 4700 River Road
Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737.
Under Sec. 92.5(c)(2) of the regulations, if APHIS at any time
determines that a region no longer meets the criteria for the risk
classification it had previously received, APHIS will remove the region
from its list of regions so classified. If the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) determines the region no longer meets the criteria
for the risk classification it had previously received, APHIS may
concur with the OIE determination or may request updated information
from the region and determine whether to concur with the OIE decision.
On October 19, 2018, the veterinary authority of the United Kingdom
reported that Scotland had a case of classical C-type BSE in a 5 year-
old indigenous cow; the BSE case was confirmed on October 18, 2018. As
a result of this finding, the OIE suspended Scotland's negligible risk
status effective October 2, 2018.
Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec. 92.5(c)(2)
and in concurrence with the OIE's suspension of Scotland's negligible
risk status, we have removed Scotland from our list of regions
considered to be negligible risk for BSE and added Scotland to the list
of regions classified by APHIS as having controlled risk for BSE.
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.),
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a;
31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.
Done in Washington, DC, this 31st day of July 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-16902 Filed 8-6-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
