Notice of Determination of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Status of Singapore, 55547-55548 [2019-22646]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Notices product-import-information/animalhealth-status-of-regions/animal-healthstatus-of-regions. The regulations in 9 CFR 92.2 contain requirements for requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region or for the approval of the export of a particular type of animal or animal product to the United States from a foreign region. If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in support of the request, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will make its evaluation available for public comment through a notice published in the Federal Register. Following the close of the comment period, APHIS will review all comments received and will make a final determination regarding the request that will be detailed in another notice published in the Federal Register. In accordance with that process, Mexico asked APHIS to recognize the State of Baja California, Mexico as a region free from fever ticks. In response to this request, we prepared an evaluation of the fever tick status of this region. The evaluation concluded that the State of Baja California, Mexico is free from fever ticks, and that ruminants imported from the region pose a low risk of exposing ruminants within the United States to fever ticks. On March 19, 2019, we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 10023– 10024, Docket No. APHIS–2018–0030) a notice 1 in which we announced the availability for review and comment of our evaluation of the fever tick status of the State of Baja California, Mexico. We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on May 20, 2019. We received no comments on our evaluation. Therefore, based on the findings of our evaluation and the absence of comments that would lead us to reconsider those findings, we are announcing our determination to add the State of Baja California, Mexico to the list of regions of Mexico declared free from fever ticks. This list is available on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-andanimal-product-import-information/ animal-health-status-of-regions/animalhealth-status-of-regions. Congressional Review Act Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of 1 To view the notice and the evaluation, go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0030. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action 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 10th day of October 2019. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22645 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2018–0043] Notice of Determination of the Footand-Mouth Disease Status of Singapore Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public of our determination to recognize Singapore as being free of foot-andmouth disease (FMD). Based on our evaluation of the FMD status of Singapore, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, the Administrator has determined that Singapore is free of FMD. DATES: This change in Singapore’s FMD status will be recognized on November 18, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Roberta A. Morales, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 855–7735; Roberta.A.Morales@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the regulations) govern the importation of certain animals and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including foot-andmouth disease (FMD). The regulations prohibit or otherwise restrict the importation of live ruminants and swine, and products from these animals, from regions where the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) considers FMD to exist. Within part 94, § 94.1 contains requirements governing the importation of ruminants and swine from regions where FMD exists and the importation of the meat of any ruminants or swine SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55547 from regions where FMD exists to prevent the introduction of this disease into the United States. We consider FMD to exist in all regions except those listed in accordance with paragraph (a) of that section as free of FMD. Section 94.11 of the regulations contains requirements governing the importation of meat of any ruminants or swine from regions that have been determined to be free of FMD, but that are subject to certain restrictions because of their proximity to or trading relationships with FMD-affected regions. Such regions are listed in accordance with paragraph (a) of that section. The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, § 92.2, contain requirements for requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region. If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in support of the request, APHIS believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will indicate its intent and make its evaluation available for public comment through a document published in the Federal Register. Following the close of the comment period, APHIS will review all comments received and will make a final determination regarding the request that will be detailed in another document published in the Federal Register. In accordance with that process, Singapore requested that APHIS evaluate the FMD status of that country. In response to this request, APHIS conducted a qualitative risk assessment to evaluate the FMD status of Singapore. Based on the results of this evaluation, we have determined that Singapore is free of FMD. APHIS also determined that the surveillance, prevention, and control measures implemented by Singapore are sufficient to minimize the likelihood of introducing FMD into the United States via imports of species susceptible to this disease or products of those species. Accordingly, we published a notice 1 in the Federal Register on March 19, 2019 (84 FR 10024–10025, Docket No. APHIS–2018–0043), in which we announced the availability, for review and comment, of a risk assessment that evaluated the risk of introduction of FMD into the United States through the importation of animals and animal products from Singapore. We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending May 20, 2019. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, in accordance with the regulations, we are announcing our 1 To view the notice and supporting documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov/ docket?D=APHIS-2018-0043. E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1 55548 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Notices decision to recognize Singapore as free of FMD. The list of regions recognized as free of FMD can be found on the APHIS website at https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/ disease-status-of-regions. Copies of the lists are also available via postal mail, fax, or email upon request to Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737. Congressional Review Act Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 7701–7772, 7781–7786, 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 10th day of October 2019. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22646 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service [Docket ID NRCS–2019–0015] Adoption of Another Agency’s Final Environmental Impact Statement To Implement the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision (ROD). AGENCY: NRCS announces the availability of the agency’s Record of Decision (ROD) to adopt the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), ‘‘Feral Swine Damage Management: A National Approach EIS’’, prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), under the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) adoption provisions of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Lowenfish, Branch Chief for Areawide Planning, Natural Resources Conservation Service, at Martin.Lowenfish@usda.gov or (202) 690–4979. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 communication should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice). DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NRCS will adopt the FEIS titled, ‘‘Feral Swine Damage Management; A National Approach EIS’’, prepared by APHIS under the EIS adoption provisions of CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1506.3). NRCS is taking this action to address the mandates in section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill, Pub. L. 115–334) to provide financial assistance for a Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program in collaboration with APHIS. The purpose of the pilot program, as stated in the Act, is to respond to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health. NRCS’s actions under section 2408 of the 2018 Farm Bill are narrower than the scope of the larger APHIS effort defined in the FEIS and are limited to providing financial assistance specifically for outreach, training, equipment, and operations for feral swine trapping, consistent with APHIS technical standards. Subsequent actions, including disposal, are the responsibility of those carrying out the trapping activities, and must occur consistent with all associated Federal, State, and local laws. The details on the FEIS were provided in the published Notice of Intent to adopt FEIS dated on July 17, 2019 (84 FR 34118) and associated Notice of Availability published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (84 FR 32168). Two comments were received in response to these notices. The first, submitted by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, in support of the actions and methods defined in the FEIS and is appended to this NOA. The second, submitted by a private citizen indicating they disagreed with this use of Federal funding. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 left no discretion to the agency concerning this matter. The ROD is available by requesting a copy at the above address. Documentation developed during the agency’s review of the FEIS is on file and may be reviewed by contacting Martin Lowenfish at the above number. No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal Register. Notice of Request for Reinstatement of Discontinued Collection SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Kevin Norton, Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22652 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–16–P PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Rural Business-Cooperative Service Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA. ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural BusinessCooperative Service’s (RBCS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 4290, subpart A, Rural Business Investment Companies Program. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 16, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Dickson, Rural Development Innovation Center—Regulatory Team 2, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Room 5164, South Building, Washington, DC 20250–1522. Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Email: Thomas.dickson@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Rural Business Investment Companies Program. OMB Number: 0570–0051. Type of Request: Reinstatement of a discontinued collection. Abstract: RBCS administers the Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP). The primary objective of this program is to promote economic development and the creation of wealth and job opportunities in rural areas and to establish a developmental capital program, with the mission of addressing unmet equity investment needs of small enterprises located in rural areas. RBCS collects information from applicants to confirm eligibility for the program and to evaluate the quality of the applications. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 300 hours per response. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2 per year. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Number of Responses: 241. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 904 hours. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Diane M. Berger, Rural Development Innovation Center— Regulatory Team, (715) 619–3124. SUMMARY: Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55547-55548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22646]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0043]


Notice of Determination of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Status of 
Singapore

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our determination to recognize 
Singapore as being free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Based on our 
evaluation of the FMD status of Singapore, which we made available to 
the public for review and comment through a previous notice, the 
Administrator has determined that Singapore is free of FMD.

DATES: This change in Singapore's FMD status will be recognized on 
November 18, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Roberta A. Morales, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, 
VS, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 855-7735; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred 
to below as the regulations) govern the importation of certain animals 
and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction 
of various animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The 
regulations prohibit or otherwise restrict the importation of live 
ruminants and swine, and products from these animals, from regions 
where the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) considers 
FMD to exist.
    Within part 94, Sec.  94.1 contains requirements governing the 
importation of ruminants and swine from regions where FMD exists and 
the importation of the meat of any ruminants or swine from regions 
where FMD exists to prevent the introduction of this disease into the 
United States. We consider FMD to exist in all regions except those 
listed in accordance with paragraph (a) of that section as free of FMD.
    Section 94.11 of the regulations contains requirements governing 
the importation of meat of any ruminants or swine from regions that 
have been determined to be free of FMD, but that are subject to certain 
restrictions because of their proximity to or trading relationships 
with FMD-affected regions. Such regions are listed in accordance with 
paragraph (a) of that section.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, Sec.  92.2, contain requirements 
for requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region. 
If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in support 
of the request, APHIS believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS 
will indicate its intent and make its evaluation available for public 
comment through a document published in the Federal Register. Following 
the close of the comment period, APHIS will review all comments 
received and will make a final determination regarding the request that 
will be detailed in another document published in the Federal Register.
    In accordance with that process, Singapore requested that APHIS 
evaluate the FMD status of that country. In response to this request, 
APHIS conducted a qualitative risk assessment to evaluate the FMD 
status of Singapore. Based on the results of this evaluation, we have 
determined that Singapore is free of FMD. APHIS also determined that 
the surveillance, prevention, and control measures implemented by 
Singapore are sufficient to minimize the likelihood of introducing FMD 
into the United States via imports of species susceptible to this 
disease or products of those species.
    Accordingly, we published a notice \1\ in the Federal Register on 
March 19, 2019 (84 FR 10024-10025, Docket No. APHIS-2018-0043), in 
which we announced the availability, for review and comment, of a risk 
assessment that evaluated the risk of introduction of FMD into the 
United States through the importation of animals and animal products 
from Singapore.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the notice and supporting documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2018-0043.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending May 20, 
2019. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, in accordance with 
the regulations, we are announcing our

[[Page 55548]]

decision to recognize Singapore as free of FMD. The list of regions 
recognized as free of FMD can be found on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/disease-status-of-regions. Copies of 
the lists are also available via postal mail, fax, or email upon 
request to Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, 
Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 4700 
River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737.

Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action 
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 7701-7772, 7781-7786, 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 10th day of October 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-22646 Filed 10-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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