Oral Rabies Vaccine Program; Availability of a Supplemental Environmental Assessment, 35729-35730 [2021-14442]

Download as PDF 35729 Notices Federal Register Vol. 86, No. 127 Wednesday, July 7, 2021 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–2019–0034] Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. AGENCY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a supplemental environmental assessment (EA) relative to a 2019 EA of an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. This supplement analyzes the proposed expanded use of ONRAB vaccine-baits throughout the ORV distribution zone in Pennsylvania in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. We are making the supplemental EA available to the public for review and comment. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 6, 2021. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS– 2019–0034 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2019–0034, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. The supplemental environmental assessment and any comments we khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Jul 06, 2021 Jkt 253001 Mr. Richard Chipman, Rabies Program Coordinator, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2, Concord, NH 03301; (603) 223–9623. To obtain copies of the supplemental environmental assessment, contact Ms. Beth Kabert, Environmental Coordinator, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2, Concord, NH 03301; (908) 442– 6761; email: beth.e.kabert@usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Oral Rabies Vaccine Program; Availability of a Supplemental Environmental Assessment SUMMARY: receive on this docket may be viewed at www.regulations.gov or in our reading room, whichis located in Room 1620 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. This notice and the supplemental environmental assessment are also posted on the APHIS website at https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/ws/ws_ nepa_environmental_documents.shtml. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Wildlife Services (WS) program in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) cooperates with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and private individuals to research and implement the best methods of managing conflicts between wildlife and human health and safety, agriculture, property, and natural resources. Wildlife-borne diseases that can affect domestic animals and humans are among the types of conflicts that WS addresses. Wildlife is the dominant reservoir of rabies in the United States. Since 2011, WS has been conducting field trials to study the immunogenicity and safety of an oral rabies vaccine, a human adenovirus type 5 rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine called ONRAB. Beginning in 2012, WS expanded field trials into portions of New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and new areas of West Virginia, including National Forest System lands, in order to further assess the immunogenicity of ONRAB in raccoons and skunks for raccoon rabies virus variant. On July 9, 2019 we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 32700–32701, PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Docket No. APHIS–2019–0034) 1 a notice in which we announced the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental assessment (EA) analyzing the environmental effects of continuing and expanding the oral rabies vaccine (ORV) program using the ONRAB vaccine in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. After soliciting and reviewing comments on the EA, we issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) reflecting our determination that the expanded distribution of the ONRAB wildlife rabies vaccine would not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on the ORV program’s safe and successful use of the ONRAB rabies vaccine, WS is proposing to further expand ONRAB vaccine distribution to protect human and animal health. ONRAB rabies vaccine has been used experimentally in eastern Ohio as part of an ongoing field evaluation and has successfully reduced the prevalence of the raccoon rabies virus variant in the State. WS has defined a strategic 5-year programmatic goal to eliminate raccoon rabies in Ohio. In order to achieve this goal, better managing the disease in western Pennsylvania is critical. In the Pennsylvania ORV distribution zone, the program currently uses the RABORAL V–RG® rabies wildlife vaccine. However, despite historic and ongoing rabies management using the V–RG® rabies vaccine in Pennsylvania, rabies cases have persisted and contribute to a perpetual source of disease pressure into Ohio. Accordingly, APHIS has prepared a supplemental EA in which we analyze the potential environmental impacts of expanding the ONRAB ORV program to include the Pennsylvania ORV distribution zone in which the V–RG® vaccine is currently used. The supplemental EA analyzes a number of environmental issues or concerns with the ONRAB vaccine and activities associated with the field trial, such as capture and handling animals for monitoring and surveillance purposes with regard to the proposed action. 1 The EA, Decision/FONSI, and comments we received may be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS–2019–0034 in the Search field. E:\FR\FM\07JYN1.SGM 07JYN1 35730 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 7, 2021 / Notices We are making the supplemental EA available to the public for review and 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. The supplemental EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). In addition, paper copies may be obtained by calling or writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The supplemental EA has been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (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). Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of June 2021. Michael Watson, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2021–14442 Filed 7–6–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS–2021–0015] Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information Collection: Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Survey for FSIS Public Health Partners Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing SUMMARY: its intention to revise the approved information collection regarding partner collaboration in response to illness outbreaks associated with FSISregulated food products. The Agency has increased the burden estimate by 48 hours due to an increase in the number of respondents and a longer estimated response time. The purpose of this information collection continues to inform FSIS partner outreach efforts to effectively investigate and prevent foodborne illnesses. The approval for this information collection will expire on February 28, 2022. DATES: Submit comments on or before September 7, 2021. ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for submitting comments. • Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250–3700. • Hand- or Courier-Delivered Submittals: Deliver to 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–3700. Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS– 2021–0015. Comments received in response to this docket will be made available for public inspection and posted without change, including any personal information, to https:// www.regulations.gov. Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, call (202) 205–0495 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–3700. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250–3700; (202) 720–5627. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Survey for FSIS Public Health Partners. OMB Number: 0583–0175. Expiration Date of Approval: 2/28/2022. Type of Request: Revision of an approved information collection. Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.) and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS’ Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) provides the scientific leadership necessary for the support of science-based food safety programs and policies implemented to reduce foodborne illnesses and deaths associated with FSIS-regulated products. As part of OPHS, the Applied Epidemiology Staff (AES) collaborates with public health partners in local, state, and federal government agencies to detect, respond to, and prevent foodborne illnesses, outbreaks, and food adulteration events. Effective communication between partners facilitates rapid investigation and control measures. To promote successful partnerships, FSIS administers a series of surveys regarding foodborne illness outbreak investigation to its partners, including employees of state, territorial, and local governments. This will also occur as part of the after-action review process. The results of these surveys will help FSIS prioritize outreach efforts. Surveys are conducted as needed, including as part of foodborne illness outbreak afteraction reviews. Estimate of Burden khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN Respondents Number of surveys Number of respondents per survey Total annual responses Participation time per survey in minutes Total annual time in hours FSIS partners ....................................................................... 20 10 200 20 67 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Jul 06, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07JYN1.SGM 07JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35729-35730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14442]


========================================================================
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. 86, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 7, 2021 / 
Notices

[[Page 35729]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0034]


Oral Rabies Vaccine Program; Availability of a Supplemental 
Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared a supplemental environmental assessment 
(EA) relative to a 2019 EA of an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program 
in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia. This supplement analyzes the proposed 
expanded use of ONRAB vaccine-baits throughout the ORV distribution 
zone in Pennsylvania in cooperation with the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture's Forest Service. We are making the supplemental EA 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 6, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2019-0034 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0034, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    The supplemental environmental assessment and any comments we 
receive on this docket may be viewed at www.regulations.gov or in our 
reading room, whichis located in Room 1620 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.
    This notice and the supplemental environmental assessment are also 
posted on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/ws/ws_nepa_environmental_documents.shtml.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Chipman, Rabies Program 
Coordinator, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2, 
Concord, NH 03301; (603) 223-9623. To obtain copies of the supplemental 
environmental assessment, contact Ms. Beth Kabert, Environmental 
Coordinator, Wildlife Services, APHIS, 59 Chenell Drive, Suite 2, 
Concord, NH 03301; (908) 442-6761; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Wildlife Services (WS) program in the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) cooperates with Federal agencies, State and 
local governments, and private individuals to research and implement 
the best methods of managing conflicts between wildlife and human 
health and safety, agriculture, property, and natural resources. 
Wildlife-borne diseases that can affect domestic animals and humans are 
among the types of conflicts that WS addresses. Wildlife is the 
dominant reservoir of rabies in the United States.
    Since 2011, WS has been conducting field trials to study the 
immunogenicity and safety of an oral rabies vaccine, a human adenovirus 
type 5 rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine called ONRAB. Beginning 
in 2012, WS expanded field trials into portions of New Hampshire, New 
York, Ohio, Vermont, and new areas of West Virginia, including National 
Forest System lands, in order to further assess the immunogenicity of 
ONRAB in raccoons and skunks for raccoon rabies virus variant.
    On July 9, 2019 we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 32700-
32701, Docket No. APHIS-2019-0034) \1\ a notice in which we announced 
the availability, for public review and comment, of an environmental 
assessment (EA) analyzing the environmental effects of continuing and 
expanding the oral rabies vaccine (ORV) program using the ONRAB vaccine 
in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, 
Virginia, and West Virginia. After soliciting and reviewing comments on 
the EA, we issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) reflecting 
our determination that the expanded distribution of the ONRAB wildlife 
rabies vaccine would not have a significant impact on the quality of 
the human environment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The EA, Decision/FONSI, and comments we received may be 
viewed at https://www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2019-0034 in the 
Search field.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on the ORV program's safe and successful use of the ONRAB 
rabies vaccine, WS is proposing to further expand ONRAB vaccine 
distribution to protect human and animal health. ONRAB rabies vaccine 
has been used experimentally in eastern Ohio as part of an ongoing 
field evaluation and has successfully reduced the prevalence of the 
raccoon rabies virus variant in the State. WS has defined a strategic 
5-year programmatic goal to eliminate raccoon rabies in Ohio. In order 
to achieve this goal, better managing the disease in western 
Pennsylvania is critical. In the Pennsylvania ORV distribution zone, 
the program currently uses the RABORAL V-RG[supreg] rabies wildlife 
vaccine. However, despite historic and ongoing rabies management using 
the V-RG[supreg] rabies vaccine in Pennsylvania, rabies cases have 
persisted and contribute to a perpetual source of disease pressure into 
Ohio.
    Accordingly, APHIS has prepared a supplemental EA in which we 
analyze the potential environmental impacts of expanding the ONRAB ORV 
program to include the Pennsylvania ORV distribution zone in which the 
V-RG[supreg] vaccine is currently used. The supplemental EA analyzes a 
number of environmental issues or concerns with the ONRAB vaccine and 
activities associated with the field trial, such as capture and 
handling animals for monitoring and surveillance purposes with regard 
to the proposed action.

[[Page 35730]]

    We are making the supplemental EA available to the public for 
review and 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.
    The supplemental EA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website or 
in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing 
Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the 
reading room). In addition, paper copies may be obtained by calling or 
writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The supplemental EA has been prepared in accordance with: (1) The 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (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).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of June 2021.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-14442 Filed 7-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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