Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-108, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives notice that a component agency, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to add a new system of records to its inventory of records. The system of records being proposed is the APHIS Student Outreach Programs System, USDA/APHIS-26. The purpose of this system is to facilitate the submission and review of information submitted by students and their parents or guardians as part of the application process for student outreach programs.

We are adding 33 varieties to the list of black stem rust- resistant barberry species and varieties. This change will allow for the interstate movement of these newly developed varieties without unnecessary restrictions.

In accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and legislation implementing the results of the Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, we are informing the public of the international standard- setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting public comment on these standard-setting activities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request the reinstatement of an information collection associated with conducting the National Animal Health Monitoring System's small enterprise poultry study in 2025.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an approval of a new information collection associated with a study to understand human behavior and attitudes linked to human-deer transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a public notice of its intent to rescind an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Privacy Act system of records notice, Animal Damage Control Non-Federal Personnel Records, USDA/APHIS-7. This system of records notice is rescinded because it has been superseded by another system of records notice published by the Department.

We are adding modifications a plant may contain and qualify for exemption from regulations governing movement of organisms modified or produced using genetic engineering because the modifications are achievable through conventional breeding. An earlier notice proposed five types of modifications. Based on a review of public comments, we have been able to streamline and simplify our description of these modifications and are now finalizing two additional modifications a plant can contain and qualify for exemption. This action updates and clarifies the types of modifications that can be made to plants that qualify for exemption to reflect advances in science and technology, and what is achievable through conventional breeding methods to facilitate the application of biotechnology for the development of new crops.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing its proposed adjusted user fee rates for the costs of providing certain goods and services, including veterinary diagnostic goods and services and veterinary services for imports and exports of live animals and animal products. This includes the basis for any proposed adjusted fee change. This action is necessary because the regulations provide that APHIS will issue such a notice. This action would ensure that the fees charged more closely align with the costs of providing the goods or services.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing a public notice of its intent to rescind an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Privacy Act system of records notice, Brucellosis Information System and Brucellosis Recording and Reporting System, USDA/APHIS-6. This system was created to maintain information on herds and individual animals tested, studied, or restricted under the brucellosis program; epidemiologic studies; State and Federal personnel; contractual personnel; livestock markets; slaughtering establishments; milk processing plants; livestock dealers (including agents and brokers); and laboratories engaged in or affected by brucellosis program activities. This system of records notice is rescinded because it has been superseded by another system of records published by the Department.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA, the Department) is issuing a public notice of its intent to rescind an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Privacy Act system of records notice, National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), USDA/APHIS-5. This system of records notice is rescinded because it has been incorporated into another system of records notice published by the Department.

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 a study to understand livestock producers' perceptions of predator damage management methods and their willingness to continue using such methods.

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of fresh table beet root (Beta vulgaris L.) for consumption from the United Kingdom into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Based on findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh table beet root from the United Kingdom.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment relative to permitting the release of the insect, Bagous nodulosus, for the biological control of flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) in the continental United States. Based on the environmental assessment and other relevant data, we have reached a preliminary determination that the release of this control agent within the continental United States will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. We are making the environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with testing, surveillance, and reporting of the incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cattle, and certification of dairy cattle herds as a result of testing.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the importation of used farm equipment into the United States from regions affected with foot-and- mouth disease.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') intention to request approval of a new information collection associated with the National Animal Health Monitoring System's (NAHMS') data security requirements when providing access to confidential data. NAHMS' data security agreements and other paperwork along with the corresponding security protocols allow NAHMS to maintain careful controls on confidentiality and privacy, as required by law.

We are advising the public that a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to our response activities to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry operations located throughout the United States, including the U.S. territories. The draft EIS analyzes and compares the potential environmental effects of using three action alternatives during an HPAI outbreak. We are making this draft programmatic EIS available to the public for review and comment.

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Peru into the United States. Based on the analysis, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Peru. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.

We are advising the public of our decision to revise the requirements relative to the importation into the United States of fresh table grapes from regions of Chile where European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana, EGVM) is either absent or at very low prevalence. Based on the findings of a commodity import evaluation document, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that, in addition to the existing option of methyl bromide fumigation for EGVM and Chilean false red mite (Brevipalpus chilensis), grapes from Chile may be safely imported under a systems approach or irradiation for EGVM and B. chilensis. Current mitigation measures for Ceratitis capitata, or Medfly, will remain unchanged.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with its efforts to safeguard the health of U.S. livestock and poultry populations by the use of National Veterinary Services Laboratories request forms.

We are notifying the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is soliciting the public to respond to this Request for Information (RFI) as part of our stakeholder engagement to explore pathways to commercialization for modified microbes subject to APHIS jurisdiction, consistent with the APHIS regulations for the movement of organisms modified or produced through genetic engineering. In response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP's) RFI "Identifying Ambiguities, Gaps, Inefficiencies, and Uncertainties in the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology" issued in December 2022 pursuant to Executive Order 14081, multiple commenters expressed a need for clear regulatory pathways to commercialization for modified microbes. Therefore, we are requesting comments from the public regarding pathways to commercialization, including needs, ideas, and concerns, regarding possible APHIS risk- based deregulation of modified microbes and other potential regulatory and non-regulatory pathways to commercialization. The information provided will help to identify potential criteria and mechanisms for risk-based deregulation, develop a regulatory framework that could inform future rulemaking, and identify potential non-regulatory solutions.

We are advising the public of the changes made to our lists of domestic quarantined areas in the past year. These changes may be viewed on the relevant plant pest programs' websites.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') intention to request approval of a new information collection associated with the APHIS National Incident Management System Training and Exercise Program that provides Federal Emergency Management Agency- related training to respondents responding to plant, pest, and animal disease outbreaks.

We are advising the public that we are recognizing the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, Italy as being free of swine vesicular disease. This recognition is based on a risk evaluation we prepared in connection with this action and made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice. As a result of this action, live swine, pork, and pork products may safely be imported into the United States from the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, Italy subject to conditions in the regulations. This notice also announces the availability of our final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact.

We are proposing to amend the regulations governing the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). These amendments would, among other things, condition indemnity for low pathogenicity avian influenza on adherence to biosecurity plans, clarify existing provisions of the regulations, fix editorial errors, and align the regulations more closely with current producer practices. These proposed changes were voted on and approved by the voting delegates at the NPIP's 2022 National Plan Conference.