Addition of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the List of Regions Affected by African Swine Fever, 72988-72989 [2023-23483]

Download as PDF 72988 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2023 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 and special qualities provided by this appropriation. Energy produced will be clean, affordable, reliable, and owned by the people who live in rural America. As a result, this legislation and the funding opportunity here allows for a New ERA in rural communities. Need and Use of the Information: Eligible applicants under the New ERA Program are electric cooperatives as described in section 501(c)(12) or 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is or has been a RUS (formerly the Rural Electrification Administration) electric loan borrower pursuant to the RE Act or is serving a predominantly rural area (or a wholly or jointly owned subsidiary of such electric cooperative). There are well over 900 rural electric cooperatives eligible for this program. The application process for the New ERA Program will be conducted in two phases. Phase one will be a Letter of Interest (LOI) with sufficient information to determine a pool of prospective applicants which advance the goals of the statute, achieve policy objectives, meet minimum requirements, and are within the budget of the program. Those LOIs that meet the criteria will be issued an Invitation to Proceed to submit a full, complete New ERA application (phase two). Applicants wishing to apply for the New ERA Program with an LOI and if successful, a complete application must submit requested data, proposals, certifications and agreements to the Agency thru an online application window. The information collected will be used to: determine applicant and project eligibility, assess the projects’ technical and financial merit and evaluate the metrics that reflect achieving the greatest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in order to rank the applications and determine which ones to offer an award. Lack of adequate information to make the determinations could result in the improper administration and appropriation of Federal funds. Description of Respondents: State, Local, and Tribal Governments. Number of Respondents: 250. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually. Total Burden Hours: 185,514. Rural Utilities Service Title: Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program. OMB Control Number: 0572–0159. Summary of Collection: On August 16, 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 (Pub. L. 117–169). Subtitle C, Section 22001 of IRA amended Section 9003 of the Farm VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Oct 23, 2023 Jkt 262001 Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103) by adding new subsection (h). Through the passing of IRA, the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program was established with the goal of supporting clean, affordable energy growth across America. The PACE Program will be administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development (RD) Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), that provides mortgage loans and loan guarantees to electric systems to provide and improve electric service in rural areas pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., RE Act). Section 22001 of IRA provided the Agency with $1,000,000,000 in Budget Authority (BA), to remain available until September 30, 2031. With this BA, the Agency through the PACE Program, will provide loans to eligible entities, with varying levels of loan forgiveness, for Projects that generate and/or store electricity from Renewable Energy Resource (RER) systems. Need and Use of the Information: The Application process for the PACE Program will be conducted in two phases. Phase one will be a Letter of Interest (LOI) with sufficient information to determine a pool of prospective applicants which advance the goals of the statute, achieve policy objectives, meet minimum requirements, and are within the budget of the program. Those LOIs that meet the criteria will be issued an Invitation to Proceed to submit a full, complete Application (phase two). Applicants wishing to apply for the PACE Program with a LOI and if successful, a completed Application must submit requested data, proposals, certifications, and agreements to the Agency thru an online application window. The information collected will be used to determine a borrower’s ability to meet financial obligations, includes analyses and document review by RUS regarding the applicant’s historical, current, and projected costs, revenues, cash flows, assets, and other factors that may be relevant on a caseby-case basis. RUS recognizes that Projects outlined by applicants may vary in size, financial complexity, and administration; so, the respondent’s burden may vary as well. The RUS Administrator maintains discretion to forego requirements for parts of the following information as required by the conditions among applicants. Description of Respondents: State, Local, and Tribal Governments. Number of Respondents: 250. PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually. Total Burden Hours: 23,333. Levi S. Harrell, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2023–23451 Filed 10–23–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2022–0073] Addition of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the List of Regions Affected by African Swine Fever Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we have added the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of the confirmation of ASF in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. SUMMARY: The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was added to the APHIS list of regions considered affected with ASF effective May 23, 2022. DATES: Dr. Amber Kerk, Staff Officer, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture II, 3rd Floor, Raleigh, NC 27606; phone: (608) 662–0625; email: AskRegionalization@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the regulations) govern the importation of specified animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into the United States of various animal diseases, including African swine fever (ASF). ASF is a highly contagious disease of wild and domestic swine that can spread rapidly with extremely high rates of morbidity and mortality. A list of regions where ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist is maintained on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animaland-animal-product-importFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2023 / Notices information/animal-health-status-ofregions/. This list is referenced in § 94.8(a)(2) of the regulations. Section 94.8(a)(3) of the regulations states that APHIS will add a region to the list referenced in § 94.8(a)(2) upon determining ASF exists in the region or having reason to believe the disease exists in the region, based on reports APHIS receives of outbreaks of the disease from veterinary officials of the exporting country, from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH),1 or from other sources the Administrator determines to be reliable, or upon determining that there is reason to believe the disease exists in the region. Section 94.8(a)(1) of the regulations specifies the criteria on which the Administrator bases the reason to believe ASF exists in a region. Section 94.8(b) prohibits the importation of pork and pork products from regions listed in accordance with § 94.8 except if processed and treated in accordance with the provisions specified in that section or consigned to an APHIS-approved establishment for further processing. Section 96.2 restricts the importation of swine casings that originated in or were processed in a region where ASF exists, as listed under § 94.8(a). On May 18, 2022, the veterinary authorities of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal reported to WOAH the occurrence of ASF in that country. In response to that report, on May 23, 2022, APHIS added the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the list of regions where ASF exists or the Administrator has reason to believe that ASF exists, in compliance with § 94.8(a)(3). This notice serves as an official record and public notification of that action. As a result, pork and pork products from Nepal, including casings, are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate the risk of ASF introduction into the United States. 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. 1 The World Organization for Animal Health internationally follows a British English spelling of ‘‘organisation’’ in its name; also, it was formerly the Office International des Epizooties, or OIE, but on May 28, 2022, the Organization announced that the acronym was changed from OIE to WOAH. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Oct 23, 2023 Jkt 262001 Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of October 2023. Michael Watson, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2023–23483 Filed 10–23–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2023–0076] Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program; Use of MI–CO Application Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: New information collection; comment request. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request approval of a new information collection associated with the use of a mobile application to collect certain information needed to manage a comprehensive aquaculture health program. SUMMARY: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 26, 2023. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS– 2023–0076 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–2023–0076, 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 regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program, contact Dr. Kathleen Hartman, Senior DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72989 Veterinarian, Aquaculture Health, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (813) 671–5230 ext. 119; email: kathleen.h.hartman@ usda.gov. For more information about the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS’ Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851–2483; email: joseph.moxey@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program; Use of MI–CO Application. OMB Control Number: 0579–XXXX. Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection. Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) unit is responsible for, among other things, protecting the health of the nation’s aquatic livestock and supporting safe trade of those animals and their products. This authority is provided under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.). Further, Executive Order 13921, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, rescinded the 2008 National Aquatic Animal Health Plan, and authorized a new national aquaculture health plan establishing USDA as the competent authority for the protection, inspection, and certification of aquatic livestock health. The National Aquaculture Health Plan and Standards (NAHPS) provides guidance for pathogen testing, reporting, and laboratory standards in addition to outlining health inspection options for aquatic livestock. One of these inspection options is the Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS). CAHPS was developed in partnership with the U.S. aquaculture industry as a voluntary program that establishes a framework to improve and verify the health of aquatic livestock produced in the United States. Principles outlined in the CAHPS provide for early disease detection, surveillance, risk mitigation, reporting, and response for the control of aquatic animal pathogens, especially those reportable to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and to prevent their dissemination via aquatic animal sale, movement, and trade. VS and its CAHPS/aquaculture industry affiliates will use a mobile application provided through the MICorporation (MI–CO) to carry out CAHPS functions and evaluate and verify aquatic livestock health on premises. The application uses a MI–CO platform for a server/client-based mobile application that supports data E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72988-72989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23483]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2022-0073]


Addition of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the List 
of Regions Affected by African Swine Fever

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have added the Federal 
Democratic Republic of Nepal to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions 
considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken 
this action because of the confirmation of ASF in the Federal 
Democratic Republic of Nepal.

DATES: The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was added to the APHIS 
list of regions considered affected with ASF effective May 23, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Amber Kerk, Staff Officer, 
Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, Veterinary 
Services, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture II, 3rd Floor, Raleigh, 
NC 27606; phone: (608) 662-0625; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred 
to below as the regulations) govern the importation of specified 
animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into the United 
States of various animal diseases, including African swine fever (ASF). 
ASF is a highly contagious disease of wild and domestic swine that can 
spread rapidly with extremely high rates of morbidity and mortality. A 
list of regions where ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist is 
maintained on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/
animal-and-animal-product-import-

[[Page 72989]]

information/animal-health-status-of-regions/. This list is referenced 
in Sec.  94.8(a)(2) of the regulations.
    Section 94.8(a)(3) of the regulations states that APHIS will add a 
region to the list referenced in Sec.  94.8(a)(2) upon determining ASF 
exists in the region or having reason to believe the disease exists in 
the region, based on reports APHIS receives of outbreaks of the disease 
from veterinary officials of the exporting country, from the World 
Organization for Animal Health (WOAH),\1\ or from other sources the 
Administrator determines to be reliable, or upon determining that there 
is reason to believe the disease exists in the region. Section 
94.8(a)(1) of the regulations specifies the criteria on which the 
Administrator bases the reason to believe ASF exists in a region. 
Section 94.8(b) prohibits the importation of pork and pork products 
from regions listed in accordance with Sec.  94.8 except if processed 
and treated in accordance with the provisions specified in that section 
or consigned to an APHIS-approved establishment for further processing. 
Section 96.2 restricts the importation of swine casings that originated 
in or were processed in a region where ASF exists, as listed under 
Sec.  94.8(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The World Organization for Animal Health internationally 
follows a British English spelling of ``organisation'' in its name; 
also, it was formerly the Office International des Epizooties, or 
OIE, but on May 28, 2022, the Organization announced that the 
acronym was changed from OIE to WOAH.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On May 18, 2022, the veterinary authorities of the Federal 
Democratic Republic of Nepal reported to WOAH the occurrence of ASF in 
that country. In response to that report, on May 23, 2022, APHIS added 
the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the list of regions where 
ASF exists or the Administrator has reason to believe that ASF exists, 
in compliance with Sec.  94.8(a)(3). This notice serves as an official 
record and public notification of that action.
    As a result, pork and pork products from Nepal, including casings, 
are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate the risk 
of ASF introduction into the United States.
    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 17th day of October 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-23483 Filed 10-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.