82 FR 29822 - Notice of Availability of an Evaluation of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Status of Japan

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 125 (June 30, 2017)

Page Range		29822-29823
FR Document		2017-13783

We are advising the public that we are proposing to recognize Japan as being free of highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease. This proposed recognition is based on a risk evaluation we have prepared in connection with this action, which we are making available for review and comment.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29822-29823]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13783]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0053]


Notice of Availability of an Evaluation of the Highly Pathogenic 
Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Status of Japan

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are proposing to recognize 
Japan as being free of highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle 
disease. This proposed recognition is based on a risk evaluation we 
have prepared in connection with this action, which we are making 
available for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0053.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0053, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-
0053 or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1141 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: Dr. Kelly Rhodes, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import 
Export Services, VS, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1231; [email protected]; (301) 851-3315.

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 in order to prevent the introduction of 
various animal diseases, including highly pathogenic avian

[[Page 29823]]

influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle disease. Within part 94, Sec.  94.6 
contains requirements governing the importation of carcasses, meat, 
parts or products of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of 
poultry, game birds, or other birds from regions where HPAI and 
Newcastle disease is considered to exist.
    In accordance with Sec.  94.6(a)(1)(i) the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a list of regions in which 
Newcastle disease is not considered to exist. Paragraph (a)(1)(ii) 
states that APHIS will add a region to this list after it conducts an 
evaluation of the region and finds that Newcastle disease is not likely 
to be present in its commercial bird or poultry populations.
    In accordance with Sec.  94.6(a)(2)(i), APHIS maintains a list of 
regions in which HPAI is considered to exist. Paragraph (a)(2)(ii) 
states that APHIS will remove a region from this list only after it 
conducts an evaluation of the region and finds that HPAI is not likely 
to be present in its commercial bird or poultry populations.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, Sec.  92.2 contain requirements 
for requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region 
(as well as 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, APHIS believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS 
will 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.
    The Government of Japan has requested that APHIS evaluate the HPAI 
and Newcastle disease status of the country. In response to Japan's 
request, we have prepared an evaluation, titled ``APHIS Evaluation of 
the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Status of 
Japan'' (May 2017). Based on this evaluation, we have determined that 
Japan is free of both HPAI and Newcastle disease. APHIS has also 
determined that the surveillance, prevention, and control measures 
implemented by Japan are sufficient to minimize the likelihood of 
introducing HPAI and Newcastle disease into the United States via 
imports of species or products susceptible to these diseases. Our 
determination supports adding Japan to the Web-based list of regions in 
which Newcastle disease is not considered to exist and removing Japan 
from the Web-based list of regions in which HPAI is considered to 
exist.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  92.2(e), we are announcing the 
availability of our risk evaluation of the HPAI and Newcastle disease 
status of Japan for public review and comment. We are also announcing 
the availability of an environmental assessment (EA) which 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 
provision 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). The evaluation and EA may be viewed on the 
Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room. (Instructions for 
accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of 
the reading room are provided under the heading ADDRESSES at the 
beginning of this notice.) The documents are also available by 
contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Information submitted in support of Japan's request is available by 
contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the disease status of Japan with respect to HPAI and 
Newcastle disease in a subsequent notice.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 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 26th day of June 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13783 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

29822 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Notices

Total Burden Hours: 9,678. Notice is hereby given that I have DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
determined, in accordance with
Ruth Brown,
paragraph (a)(i) of the Additional U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Departmental Information Collection Service
Clearance Officer. Note 5, Chapter 17 in the HTS and
[FR Doc. 2017–13747 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am]
section 359(k) of the 1938 Act, that an [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0053]
aggregate quantity of up to 1,117,195
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
MTRV of raw cane sugar may be entered Notice of Availability of an Evaluation
or withdrawn from warehouse for of the Highly Pathogenic Avian
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE consumption during FY 2018. This is Influenza and Newcastle Disease
the minimum amount to which the Status of Japan
Office of the Secretary United States is committed under the AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
WTO Uruguay Round Agreements. I Inspection Service, USDA.
Determination of Total Amounts of have further determined that an
Fiscal Year 2018 WTO Tariff-Rate ACTION: Notice of availability.
aggregate quantity of 182,000 MTRV of
Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and sugars, syrups, and molasses may be SUMMARY: We are advising the public
Certain Sugars, Syrups and Molasses that we are proposing to recognize Japan
entered or withdrawn from warehouse
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA. for consumption during FY 2018. This as being free of highly pathogenic avian
ACTION: Notice. quantity includes the minimum amount influenza and Newcastle disease. This
to which the United States is committed proposed recognition is based on a risk
SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of under the WTO Uruguay Round evaluation we have prepared in
the Department of Agriculture (the Agreements, 22,000 MTRV, of which connection with this action, which we
Secretary) announces the establishment 20,344 MTRV is established for any are making available for review and
of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 (October 1, sugars, syrups and molasses, and 1,656 comment.
2017–September 30, 2018) in-quota MTRV is reserved for specialty sugar. DATES: We will consider all comments
aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar at An additional amount of 160,000 MTRV that we receive on or before July 31,
1,117,195 metric tons raw value is added to the specialty sugar TRQ for 2017.
(MTRV), and the establishment of the a total of 161,656 MTRV. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
FY 2018 in-quota aggregate quantity of
Because the specialty sugar TRQ is by either of the following methods:
certain sugars, syrups, and molasses
first-come, first-served, tranches are • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
(also referred to as refined sugar) at
needed to allow for orderly marketing http://www.regulations.gov/
182,000 MTRV.
throughout the year. The FY 2018 #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0053.
DATES: Effective Date: June 30, 2017. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
specialty sugar TRQ will be opened in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Send your comment to Docket No.
Souleymane Diaby, Import Policies and five tranches. The first tranche, totaling
APHIS–2016–0053, Regulatory Analysis
Export Reporting Division, Foreign 1,656 MTRV, will open October 2, 2017. and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
Agricultural Service, Department of All specialty sugars are eligible for entry 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118,
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue under this tranche. The second tranche Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
SW., AgStop 1021, Washington, DC will open on October 18, 2017, and be Supporting documents and any
20250–1021; by telephone (202) 720– equal to 48,000 MTRV. The third comments we receive on this docket
2916; by fax (202) 720–0876; or by email tranche of 48,000 MTRV will open on may be viewed at http://
souleymane.diaby@fas.usda.gov. January 23, 2018. The fourth and fifth www.regulations.gov/
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The tranches of 32,000 MTRV each will #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0053 or
provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of the open on April 17, 2018, and July 17, in our reading room, which is located in
Additional U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in 2018, respectively. The second, third, Room 1141 of the USDA South
the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule fourth, and fifth tranches will be Building, 14th Street and Independence
(HTS) authorize the Secretary to reserved for organic sugar and other Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal
establish the in-quota tariff-rate quota specialty sugars not currently produced reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30
(TRQ) amounts (expressed in terms of commercially in the United States or p.m., Monday through Friday, except
raw value) for imports of raw cane sugar reasonably available from domestic holidays. To be sure someone is there to
and certain sugars, syrups, and molasses sources. help you, please call (202) 799–7039
that may be entered under the before coming.
* Conversion factor: 1 metric ton =
subheadings of the HTS subject to the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
1.10231125 short tons.
lower tier of duties during each fiscal Kelly Rhodes, Senior Staff Veterinarian,
year. The Office of the U.S. Trade Dated: June 21, 2017. Regionalization Evaluation Services,
Representative (USTR) is responsible for Jason Hafemeister, National Import Export Services, VS,
the allocation of these quantities among Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Trade and APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit
supplying countries and areas. Foreign Agricultural Affairs. 38, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231;
Section 359(k) of the Agricultural Dated: June 22, 2017. Kelly.Rhodes@aphis.usda.gov; (301)
Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, 851–3315.
Robert Johansson,
requires that at the beginning of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

Acting Under Secretary, Farm Production and
quota year the Secretary of Agriculture The regulations in 9 CFR part 94
Conservation.
establish the TRQs for raw cane sugar (referred to below as the regulations)
[FR Doc. 2017–13781 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am]
and refined sugars at the minimum govern the importation of certain
levels necessary to comply with BILLING CODE 3410–10–P animals and animal products into the
obligations under international trade United States in order to prevent the
agreements, with the exception of introduction of various animal diseases,
specialty sugar. including highly pathogenic avian

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jun 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM 30JNN1

Document Created: 2017-06-30 06:02:11
Document Modified: 2017-06-30 06:02:11

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Dates		We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 31, 2017.
Contact		Dr. Kelly Rhodes, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [email protected]; (301) 851-3315.
FR Citation		82 FR 29822

82 FR 29822 - Notice of Availability of an Evaluation of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Status of Japan

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 125 (June 30, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service