83 FR 53207 - Solicitation of Veterinary Shortage Situation Nominations for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 204 (October 22, 2018)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 204 (October 22, 2018)
| Page Range | 53207-53210 | |
| FR Document | 2018-22951 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 53207-53210] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-22951] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture Solicitation of Veterinary Shortage Situation Nominations for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice and solicitation for nominations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting nominations of veterinary service shortage situations for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) for fiscal year (FY) 2019, as authorized under the National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA). This notice initiates the nomination period and prescribes the procedures and criteria to be used by eligible nominating officials (State, Insular Area, DC and Federal Lands) to nominate veterinary shortage situations. Each year all eligible nominating officials may submit nominations, up to the maximum indicated for each entity in this notice. NIFA is conducting this solicitation of veterinary shortage situation nominations under an approved information collection (OMB Control Number 0524-0050). DATES: Shortage situation nominations must be submitted not later than 30 days after the publication of this notice. ADDRESSES: Submissions must be made by clicking the submit button on the Veterinarian Shortage Situation nomination form provided in the [[Page 53208]] VMLRP Shortage Situations section of the NIFA website at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp. This form is sent as a data file directly to the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Colby; National Program Leader; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2240 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2220; Voice: 202-401-4202; Fax: 833-208-8205; Email: vmlrp@nifa.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose Food supply veterinary medicine embraces a broad array of veterinary professional activities, specialties and responsibilities, and is defined as all aspects of veterinary medicine's involvement in food supply systems, from traditional agricultural production to consumption. A series of studies and reports 1 2 3 4 5 6 have drawn attention to maldistributions in the veterinary workforce leaving some communities, especially rural areas, with insufficient access to food supply veterinary services. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Government Accountability Office, Veterinary Workforce: Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public and Animal Health, GAO-09-178: Feb. 18, 2009; \2\ National Academies of Science, Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine, 2013. \3\ Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Food Supplyn Veterinary Medicine Coaltion Report: Estimating FSM Demand and Maintaining the Availability of Veterinarians in Food Supply Related Disciplines in the United States and Canada, 2016. https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/References/Pages/Food-Supply-Veterinary-Medicine-Coalition-Report.aspx. \4\ Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Future demand, probable shortgages and strategies for creating a better future in food supply veterinary medicine, 2006, JAVMA 229(1) :57-69. \5\ Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Attracting students to careers in food supply veterinary medicine. 2006, JAVMA 228(1) :16931704. \6\ Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Job satisfaction, changes in occupational area and commitment to a career in food supply veterinary medicine. 2006, JAVMA 228(12) :1884-1893. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two programs, born out of this concern, aim to mitigate the maldistribution of the veterinary workforce: The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP), both administered by USDA-NIFA. VMLRP addresses increasing veterinary school debt by offering veterinary school debt payments in exchange for service in shortage situations, while VSGP addresses other factors contributing to the maldistribution of veterinarians serving the agricultural sector. Specifically, the VSGP promotes availability and access to (1) specialized education and training which will enable veterinarians and veterinary technicians to provide services in designated veterinarian shortage situations, and (2) practice-enhancing equipment and personnel resources to enable veterinary practices to expand or improve access to veterinary services. Paperwork Reduction Act In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations (5 CFR part 1320) that implement the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the information collection and recordkeeping requirements imposed by the implementation of these guidelines have been approved by OMB Control Number 0524-0050. Table of Contents in Guidelines for Veterinary Shortage Situation Nominations I. Preface and Authority II. Nomination of Veterinary Shortage Situations A. General 1. Eligible Shortage Situations 2. Authorized Respondents and Use of Consultation 3. State Allocation of Nominations 4. FY 2019 Shortage Situation Nomination Process 5. Submission and Due Date 6. Period Covered 7. Definitions B. Nomination Form C. NIFA Review of Shortage Situation Nominations 1. Review Panel Composition and Process 2. Review Criteria Guidelines for Veterinary Shortage Situation Nominations I. Preface and Authority In January 2003, the National Veterinary Medical Service Act (NVMSA) was passed into law adding section 1415A to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1997 (NARETPA). This law established a new Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a program of entering into agreements with veterinarians under which they agree to provide veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations in return for repayment of qualified educational loans. In FY 2010, NIFA announced the first funding opportunity for the VMLRP. Section 7104 of the 2014 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 113-79) added section 1415B to NARETPA, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 3151b) to establish the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP). This amendment authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to qualified entities and individual veterinarians that carry out programs in veterinarian shortage situations and for the purpose of developing, implementing, and sustaining veterinary services. Funding for the VSGP was first appropriated in FY 2016 through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113). Pursuant to the requirements enacted in the NVMSA of 2004 (as revised), and the implementing regulation for this Act, Part 3431 Subpart A of the VMLRP Final Rule [75 FR 20239-20248], NIFA hereby implements guidelines for eligible nominating officials to nominate veterinary shortage situations for the FY 2018 program cycle. II. Nomination of Veterinary Shortage Situations A. General 1. Eligible Shortage Situations Section 1415A of NARETPA, as amended and revised by Section 7105 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act, directs determination of veterinarian shortage situations for the VMLRP to consider (1) geographical areas that the Secretary determines have a shortage of veterinarians; and (2) areas of veterinary practice that the Secretary determines have a shortage of veterinarians, such as food animal medicine, public health, epidemiology, and food safety. This section also added that priority should be given to agreements with veterinarians for the practice of food animal medicine in veterinarian shortage situations. While the NVMSA (as amended) specifies priority be given to food animal medicine shortage situations, and that consideration also be given to specialty areas such as public health, epidemiology and food safety, the Act does not identify any areas of veterinary practice as ineligible. Accordingly, all nominated veterinary shortage situations will be considered eligible for submission. A subset of the shortages designated for VMLRP applicants is also available to satisfy requirements, as applicable, for VSGP applicants. In addition, a shortage situation under the VSGP must also be designated rural as defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)). Nominations describing either public or private practice veterinary shortage situations are eligible for submission. [[Page 53209]] 2. Authorized Respondents and Use of Consultation The only authorized respondent on behalf of each State is the chief State Animal Health Official (SAHO), as duly authorized by the Governor or the Governor's designee in each State. The only authorized respondent on behalf of the Federal Government is the Chief Federal Animal Health Officer (Deputy Administrator of Veterinary Services, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or designee), as duly authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture. The eligible nominating official must submit nominations using the instructions provided in section A.4, FY 2018 Shortage Situation Nomination Process. NIFA strongly encourages the nominating officials to involve leading health animal experts in the State in the identification and prioritization of shortage situation nominations. 3. State Allocation of Nominations NIFA will accept the number of nominations equivalent to the maximum number of designated shortage areas for each State. For historical background and more information on the rationale for capping nominations and State allocation method, visit https://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-nomination-and-designation-veterinary-shortage-situations. The maximum number of nominations (and potential designations) is based on data from the 2012 Agricultural Census conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Awards from previous years have no bearing on a State's maximum number of allowable shortage nomination submissions or designations in any given year, or number of nominations or designations allowed for subsequent years. NIFA reserves the right in the future to proportionally adjust the maximum number of designated shortage situations per State to ensure a balance between available funds and the requirement to ensure that priority is given to mitigating veterinary shortages corresponding to situations of greatest need. Nomination Allocation tables for FY 2019 are available under the VMLRP Shortage Situations section of the VMLRP website at https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/vmlrp-shortage-allocations. Table I lists the maximum nomination allocations by State. Table II lists ``Special Consideration Areas'' which include any State or Insular Area not reporting data to NASS, reporting less than $1,000,000 in annual Livestock and Livestock Products Total Sales ($), and/or possessing less than 500,000 acres. One nomination is allocated to any State or Insular Area classified as a Special Consideration Area. Table III shows the values and quartile ranks of States for two variables broadly correlated with demand for food supply veterinary services: ``Livestock and Livestock Products Total Sales ($)'' (LPTS) and ``Land Area (acres)'' (LA). The maximum number of NIFA-designated shortage situations per State is based on the sum of quartile rankings for LPTS and LA for each State and can be found in Table IV. While Federal Lands are widely dispersed within States and Insular Areas across the country, they constitute a composite total land area over twice the size of Alaska. If the 200-mile limit for U.S. coastal waters and associated fishery areas are included, Federal Land total acreage would exceed 1 billion. Both State and Federal Animal Health officials have responsibilities for matters relating to terrestrial and aquatic food animal health on Federal Lands. Interaction between wildlife and domestic livestock, such as sheep and cattle, is particularly common in the plains States where significant portions of Federal lands are leased for grazing. Therefore, both SAHOs and the Chief Federal Animal Health Officer (Deputy Administrator of Veterinary Services, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or designee) may submit nominations to address shortage situations on or related to Federal Lands. Nominations related to Federal Lands submitted by SAHOs will count towards the maximum number of nominations for that individual state. NIFA emphasizes that the shortage nomination allocation is set to broadly balance the number of designated shortage situations across States prior to the nomination and award phases of the VMLRP and VSGP. Awards will be made based strictly on the peer review panel's assessment according to each program's review criteria; thus no State will be given a preference for placement of awardees. Additionally, each designated shortage situation will be limited to one award per program. 4. FY 2019 Shortage Situation Nomination Process For the FY 2019 program cycle, all eligible nominating officials submitting may: (1) Request to retain designated status for any shortage situation successfully designated in FY 2018 and/or (2) submit new nominations. Any shortage from FY 2018 not retained or submitted as a new nomination will not be considered a shortage situation in FY 2019. The total number of new nominations plus designated nominations retained (carried over) may not exceed the maximum number of nominations each eligible nominating official is permitted. The following process is the mechanism for retaining a designated nomination: Each nominating official should review the map of VMLRP designated shortage situations for FY 2018 (https://go.usa.gov/xUhqW) and download a PDF copy of the nomination form for each designated area that remains open (not awarded) in FY 2018. If the nominating official wishes to retain (carry over) one or more designated nomination(s), the nominating official shall copy and paste the prior year information into the current year's nomination form and select ``SUBMIT''. Both new and retained nominations must be submitted on the Veterinary Shortage Situation Nomination form provided in the VMLRP Shortage Situations section at https://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-shortage-situations. Nominations retained (carried over) will be designated without review unless major changes in content are identified during administrative processing or the shortage has been retained for three years. Major changes in content or shortages already retained for three consecutive years will be treated as new submissions and undergo merit review. 5. Submission and Due Date Submissions must be made by clicking the submit button on the Veterinarian Shortage Situation nomination form provided in the VMLRP Shortage Situations section at https://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-shortage-situations. This form is sent as a data file directly to the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Shortage situation nominations. Both new and retained (carry-over) nominations must be submitted not later than 30 days after the publication of this notice. 7. Period Covered Each shortage situation is approved for one program year cycle only. However, any previously approved shortage situation not filled in a given program year may be resubmitted as a retained (carry-over) nomination. Retained (carry-over) shortage nominations (without any revisions) will be automatically approved for up to three years before requiring another merit review. By resubmitting a carry-over nomination, the nominating official is affirming that in his or her professional judgment the original case [[Page 53210]] made for shortage status, and the original description of needs, remain current and accurate. 8. Definitions For the purpose of implementing the solicitation for veterinary shortage situations, the definitions provided in 7 CFR part 3431 are applicable. B. Nomination Form The VMLRP Shortage Nomination Form must be used to nominate veterinarian shortage situations. Once designated as a shortage situation, VMLRP applicants will use the information to select shortage situations they are willing and qualified to fill, and to guide the preparation of their applications. NIFA will use the information to assess contractual compliance of awardees. The form is available in the VMLRP Shortage Situations section at https://nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-shortage-situations. See Part II A. 5. for submission information. Detailed directions for each field can be found at https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/vmlrp-veterinarian-shortage-situation-nomination-form-form-nifa-2009-0001. C. NIFA Review of Shortage Situation Nominations 1. Review Panel Composition and Process NIFA will convene a panel of food supply veterinary medicine experts from Federal and/or State agencies, and an institution receiving Animal Health and Disease Research Program funds under section 1433 of NARETPA, to review the nominations and make recommendations to the NIFA Program Manager. NIFA will review the panel's recommendations and designate the VMLRP shortage situations. The list of approved shortage situations will be made available on the VMLRP website at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp. 2. Review Criteria Criteria used by the shortage situation nomination review panel and NIFA for certifying a veterinary shortage situation will be consistent with the information requested in the shortage situations nomination form. NIFA understands the process for defining the risk landscape associated veterinary service shortages within a State may require consideration of many qualitative and quantitative factors. In addition, each shortage situation will be characterized by a different array of subjective and objective supportive information that must be developed into a cogent case identifying, characterizing, and justifying a given geographic or disciplinary area as deficient in certain types of veterinary capacity or service. To accommodate the uniqueness of each shortage situation, the nomination form provides opportunities to present a case using both supportive metrics and narrative explanations to define and explain the proposed need. While NIFA anticipates some arguments made in support of a given shortage situation will be qualitative, respondents are encouraged to present verifiable quantitative and qualitative evidentiary information wherever possible. Absence of quantitative data such as animal and veterinarian census data for the proposed shortage area(s) may lead the panel to recommend disapproval of the shortage nomination. The maximum point value that panelists may award for each element is as follows: 20 points: Describe the objectives of a veterinarian to meet the needs of the shortage situation in the community, area, State/insular area, or position requested above. 20 points: Describe the activities required of a veterinarian to meet the needs of the shortage situation located in the community, area, State/insular area, or position requested above. 5 points: Describe any past efforts to recruit and retain a veterinarian to achieve the objectives and activities in the shortage situation identified above. 35 points: Describe the risk of this veterinarian position not being filled or retained. Include the risk(s) to the production of a safe and wholesome food supply and/or to animal, human, and environmental health not only in the community but in the region, State/insular area, nation, and/or international community. Type III shortages should comment on the need for and indicators of retention for individual shortage situations, as Type III shortages are unique and traditional retention indicators do not necessarily apply. An additional 20 points will be used to evaluate overall merit/ quality of the case made for each nomination. Robert Holland, Associate Director for Operations, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [FR Doc. 2018-22951 Filed 10-19-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Notices 53207
November 20th, 2018. Early registration • Dried Roots, Rhizomes and Bulbs— www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
is encouraged because it will expedite Proposed draft Standard for Dried docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_
entry into the building. The meeting Dehydrated Ginger 12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you
will take place in a Federal building. • Proposed Draft Standard for Dried or your authorized representative. Send
Attendees should bring photo Garlic your completed complaint form or letter
identification and plan for adequate • Dried Fruits and Berries—Proposed to USDA by mail, fax, or email.
time to pass through the security Draft Standard for Dried Chilli Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
screening systems. Attendees who are Peppers and Paprika Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400
not able to attend the meeting in person, • Dried Herbs—Proposed Draft Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
but who wish to participate, may do so Standard for Dried Basil DC 20250–9410.
by phone, as discussed above. • Dried Seeds—Proposed Draft Fax: (202) 690–7442, Email:
For Further Information about the 4th Standard for Dried Nutmeg program.intake@usda.gov.
Session of the CCSCH Contact: Dorian • Dried Floral Parts—Proposed Draft Persons with disabilities who require
LaFond, International Standards Standard for Dried Cloves alternative means for communication
Coordinator, Fruit and Vegetables • Proposed Draft Standard for Dried (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
Program, Specialty Crop Inspection Saffron should contact USDA’s TARGET Center
Division, Agricultural Marketing • Proposals for new work at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue • Other business Done at Washington DC on October 16,
SW, Mail Stop 0247, Washington DC • Date and place of the next session 2018.
20250–0247. Phone: +1 (202) 690–4944. Public Meeting Mary Lowe,
Email: Dorian.Lafond@ams.usda.gov. U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius.
At the December 6, 2018, public
For Further Information about the meeting, draft U.S. positions on the [FR Doc. 2018–22873 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am]
Public Meeting Contact: Marie Maratos, agenda items will be described and BILLING CODE P
U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence discussed, and attendees will have the
Avenue SW, Room 4861, South opportunity to pose questions and offer
Agriculture Building, Washington, DC DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
comments. Written comments may be
20250. Phone: (202) 690–4795, Fax: offered at the meeting or sent to Dorian
(202) 720–3157, Email: Marie.Maratos@ National Institute of Food and
LaFond, U.S. Delegate for the 4th Agriculture
osec.usda.gov. Session of the CCSCH (see ADDRESSES).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments should state that they Solicitation of Veterinary Shortage
relate to activities of the 4th Session of Situation Nominations for the
Background
the CCSCH. Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment
Codex was established in 1963 by two Additional Public Notification Program (VMLRP)
United Nations organizations, the Food
Public awareness of all segments of AGENCY: National Institute of Food and
and Agriculture Organization and the
rulemaking and policy development is Agriculture, USDA.
World Health Organization. Through
adoption of food standards, codes of important. Consequently, the U.S. ACTION: Notice and solicitation for
practice, and other guidelines Codex Office will announce this Federal nominations.
developed by its committees, and by Register publication on-line through the
SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food
promoting their adoption and USDA web page located at: http://
and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting
implementation by governments, Codex www.usda.gov/codex/, a link that also
nominations of veterinary service
seeks to protect the health of consumers offers an email subscription service
shortage situations for the Veterinary
and ensure fair practices in the food providing access to information related
Medicine Loan Repayment Program
trade. to Codex. Customers can add or delete
(VMLRP) for fiscal year (FY) 2019, as
The CCSCH is responsible for their subscription themselves, and have
authorized under the National
elaborating worldwide standards for the option to password protect their
Veterinary Medical Services Act
spices and culinary herbs in their dried accounts.
(NVMSA). This notice initiates the
and dehydrated state in whole, ground, USDA Non-Discrimination Statement nomination period and prescribes the
and cracked or crushed form and procedures and criteria to be used by
No agency, officer, or employee of the
consulting, as necessary, with other eligible nominating officials (State,
USDA shall, on the grounds of race,
international organizations in the Insular Area, DC and Federal Lands) to
color, national origin, religion, sex,
standards development process to avoid nominate veterinary shortage situations.
gender identity, sexual orientation,
duplication. Each year all eligible nominating
disability, age, marital status, family/
The CCSCH is hosted by India. The parental status, income derived from a officials may submit nominations, up to
U.S. attends CCSCH as a member public assistance program, or political the maximum indicated for each entity
country of Codex. beliefs, exclude from participation in, in this notice. NIFA is conducting this
deny the benefits of, or subject to solicitation of veterinary shortage
Issues To Be Discussed at the Public
discrimination any person in the United situation nominations under an
Meeting
States under any program or activity approved information collection (OMB
The following items on the Agenda conducted by the USDA. Control Number 0524–0050).
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
for the 4th Session of the CCSCH will DATES: Shortage situation nominations
be discussed during the public meeting: How To File a Complaint of must be submitted not later than 30
• Matters referred by the Codex Discrimination days after the publication of this notice.
Alimentarius Commission and its To file a complaint of discrimination, ADDRESSES: Submissions must be made
subsidiary bodies complete the USDA Program by clicking the submit button on the
• Oregano—Proposed Draft Standard for Discrimination Complaint Form, which Veterinarian Shortage Situation
Dried Oregano may be accessed online at http:// nomination form provided in the
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![53208 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Notices
VMLRP Shortage Situations section of maldistribution of veterinarians serving NARETPA, as amended, (7 U.S.C.
the NIFA website at www.nifa.usda.gov/ the agricultural sector. 3151b) to establish the Veterinary
vmlrp. Specifically, the VSGP promotes Services Grant Program (VSGP). This
This form is sent as a data file directly availability and access to (1) specialized amendment authorizes the Secretary of
to the Veterinary Medicine Loan education and training which will Agriculture to make competitive grants
Repayment Program; National Institute enable veterinarians and veterinary to qualified entities and individual
of Food and Agriculture; U.S. technicians to provide services in veterinarians that carry out programs in
Department of Agriculture. designated veterinarian shortage veterinarian shortage situations and for
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: situations, and (2) practice-enhancing the purpose of developing,
Michelle Colby; National Program equipment and personnel resources to implementing, and sustaining veterinary
Leader; National Institute of Food and enable veterinary practices to expand or services. Funding for the VSGP was first
Agriculture; U.S. Department of improve access to veterinary services. appropriated in FY 2016 through the
Agriculture; STOP 2240 1400 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016
Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L. 114–113).
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–2220; Voice: 202–401–4202; In accordance with the Office of Pursuant to the requirements enacted
Fax: 833–208–8205; Email: vmlrp@ Management and Budget (OMB) in the NVMSA of 2004 (as revised), and
nifa.usda.gov. regulations (5 CFR part 1320) that the implementing regulation for this
implement the Paperwork Reduction Act, Part 3431 Subpart A of the VMLRP
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Final Rule [75 FR 20239–20248], NIFA
Background and Purpose information collection and hereby implements guidelines for
Food supply veterinary medicine recordkeeping requirements imposed by eligible nominating officials to nominate
embraces a broad array of veterinary the implementation of these guidelines veterinary shortage situations for the FY
professional activities, specialties and have been approved by OMB Control 2018 program cycle.
responsibilities, and is defined as all Number 0524–0050. II. Nomination of Veterinary Shortage
aspects of veterinary medicine’s Table of Contents in Guidelines for Situations
involvement in food supply systems, Veterinary Shortage Situation
from traditional agricultural production A. General
Nominations
to consumption. A series of studies and 1. Eligible Shortage Situations
reports 1 2 3 4 5 6 have drawn attention to I. Preface and Authority
II. Nomination of Veterinary Shortage Section 1415A of NARETPA, as
maldistributions in the veterinary
Situations amended and revised by Section 7105 of
workforce leaving some communities,
A. General the Food, Conservation and Energy Act,
especially rural areas, with insufficient 1. Eligible Shortage Situations directs determination of veterinarian
access to food supply veterinary 2. Authorized Respondents and Use of shortage situations for the VMLRP to
services. Consultation
Two programs, born out of this consider (1) geographical areas that the
3. State Allocation of Nominations
concern, aim to mitigate the Secretary determines have a shortage of
4. FY 2019 Shortage Situation Nomination
maldistribution of the veterinary Process veterinarians; and (2) areas of veterinary
workforce: The Veterinary Medicine 5. Submission and Due Date practice that the Secretary determines
Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and 6. Period Covered have a shortage of veterinarians, such as
Veterinary Services Grant Program 7. Definitions food animal medicine, public health,
(VSGP), both administered by USDA– B. Nomination Form epidemiology, and food safety. This
C. NIFA Review of Shortage Situation section also added that priority should
NIFA. VMLRP addresses increasing
Nominations be given to agreements with
veterinary school debt by offering 1. Review Panel Composition and Process
veterinary school debt payments in veterinarians for the practice of food
2. Review Criteria
exchange for service in shortage animal medicine in veterinarian
situations, while VSGP addresses other Guidelines for Veterinary Shortage shortage situations.
factors contributing to the Situation Nominations While the NVMSA (as amended)
specifies priority be given to food
I. Preface and Authority
1 Government Accountability Office, Veterinary animal medicine shortage situations,
Workforce: Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient In January 2003, the National and that consideration also be given to
Capacity for Protecting Public and Animal Health, Veterinary Medical Service Act specialty areas such as public health,
GAO–09–178: Feb. 18, 2009; (NVMSA) was passed into law adding
2 National Academies of Science, Workforce
epidemiology and food safety, the Act
Needs in Veterinary Medicine, 2013.
section 1415A to the National does not identify any areas of veterinary
3 Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Food Agricultural Research, Extension, and practice as ineligible. Accordingly, all
Supplyn Veterinary Medicine Coaltion Report: Teaching Policy Act of 1997 nominated veterinary shortage
Estimating FSM Demand and Maintaining the (NARETPA). This law established a new situations will be considered eligible for
Availability of Veterinarians in Food Supply Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment
Related Disciplines in the United States and
submission.
Canada, 2016. https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/ Program (7 U.S.C. 3151a) authorizing A subset of the shortages designated
References/Pages/Food-Supply-Veterinary- the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out for VMLRP applicants is also available
Medicine-Coalition-Report.aspx. a program of entering into agreements to satisfy requirements, as applicable,
4 Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Future
with veterinarians under which they for VSGP applicants. In addition, a
demand, probable shortgages and strategies for
agree to provide veterinary services in shortage situation under the VSGP must
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
creating a better future in food supply veterinary
medicine, 2006, JAVMA 229(1) :57–69. veterinarian shortage situations in also be designated rural as defined in
5 Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Attracting return for repayment of qualified section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm
students to careers in food supply veterinary educational loans. In FY 2010, NIFA and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
medicine. 2006, JAVMA 228(1) :16931704.
6 Andrus DM, Gwinner KP, Prince, JB. Job
announced the first funding opportunity 1991(a)).
satisfaction, changes in occupational area and for the VMLRP. Nominations describing either public
commitment to a career in food supply veterinary Section 7104 of the 2014 Farm Bill or private practice veterinary shortage
medicine. 2006, JAVMA 228(12) :1884–1893. (Pub. L. 113–79) added section 1415B to situations are eligible for submission.
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![53210 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2018 / Notices
made for shortage status, and the disciplinary area as deficient in certain ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
original description of needs, remain types of veterinary capacity or service.
current and accurate. To accommodate the uniqueness of each SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given,
shortage situation, the nomination form pursuant to the provisions of the rules
8. Definitions and regulations of the U.S. Commission
provides opportunities to present a case
For the purpose of implementing the using both supportive metrics and on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
solicitation for veterinary shortage narrative explanations to define and Federal Advisory Committee Act that
situations, the definitions provided in 7 explain the proposed need. the Michigan Advisory Committee
CFR part 3431 are applicable. While NIFA anticipates some (Committee) will hold a meeting on
arguments made in support of a given Wednesday November 14, 2018, at 12
B. Nomination Form p.m. EST for the purpose discussing
shortage situation will be qualitative,
The VMLRP Shortage Nomination respondents are encouraged to present next steps in their study of voting rights
Form must be used to nominate in the state.
verifiable quantitative and qualitative
veterinarian shortage situations. Once DATES: The meeting will be held on
evidentiary information wherever
designated as a shortage situation, Wednesday November 14, 2018, at 12
possible. Absence of quantitative data
VMLRP applicants will use the p.m. EST
such as animal and veterinarian census
information to select shortage situations PUBLIC CALL INFORMATION: Dial: 877–
data for the proposed shortage area(s)
they are willing and qualified to fill, and 260–1479, Conference ID: 2679533.
may lead the panel to recommend
to guide the preparation of their
disapproval of the shortage nomination. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
applications. NIFA will use the
The maximum point value that Melissa Wojnaroski, DFO, at
information to assess contractual
panelists may award for each element is mwojnaroski@usccr.gov or 312–353–
compliance of awardees. The form is
available in the VMLRP Shortage as follows: 8311.
Situations section at https:// 20 points: Describe the objectives of a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members
nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp-shortage-situations. veterinarian to meet the needs of the of the public can listen to the
See Part II A. 5. for submission shortage situation in the community, discussion. This meeting is available to
information. Detailed directions for each area, State/insular area, or position the public through the above toll-free
field can be found at https:// requested above. call-in number. Any interested member
nifa.usda.gov/resource/vmlrp- 20 points: Describe the activities of the public may call this number and
veterinarian-shortage-situation- required of a veterinarian to meet the listen to the meeting. An open comment
nomination-form-form-nifa-2009-0001. needs of the shortage situation located period will be provided to allow
in the community, area, State/insular members of the public to make a
C. NIFA Review of Shortage Situation area, or position requested above. statement as time allows. The
Nominations 5 points: Describe any past efforts to conference call operator will ask callers
1. Review Panel Composition and recruit and retain a veterinarian to to identify themselves, the organization
Process achieve the objectives and activities in they are affiliated with (if any), and an
the shortage situation identified above. email address prior to placing callers
NIFA will convene a panel of food 35 points: Describe the risk of this
supply veterinary medicine experts into the conference room. Callers can
veterinarian position not being filled or expect to incur regular charges for calls
from Federal and/or State agencies, and retained. Include the risk(s) to the
an institution receiving Animal Health they initiate over wireless lines,
production of a safe and wholesome according to their wireless plan. The
and Disease Research Program funds food supply and/or to animal, human,
under section 1433 of NARETPA, to Commission will not refund any
and environmental health not only in incurred charges. Callers will incur no
review the nominations and make the community but in the region, State/
recommendations to the NIFA Program charge for calls they initiate over land-
insular area, nation, and/or line connections to the toll-free
Manager. NIFA will review the panel’s
international community. Type III telephone number. Persons with hearing
recommendations and designate the
shortages should comment on the need impairments may also follow the
VMLRP shortage situations. The list of
for and indicators of retention for proceedings by first calling the Federal
approved shortage situations will be
individual shortage situations, as Type Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 and
made available on the VMLRP website
III shortages are unique and traditional providing the Service with the
at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp.
retention indicators do not necessarily conference call number and conference
2. Review Criteria apply. ID number.
Criteria used by the shortage situation An additional 20 points will be used Members of the public are also
nomination review panel and NIFA for to evaluate overall merit/quality of the entitled to submit written comments;
certifying a veterinary shortage situation case made for each nomination. the comments must be received in the
will be consistent with the information Robert Holland, regional office within 30 days following
requested in the shortage situations Associate Director for Operations, National the meeting. Written comments may be
nomination form. NIFA understands the Institute of Food and Agriculture. mailed to the Regional Programs Unit
process for defining the risk landscape [FR Doc. 2018–22951 Filed 10–19–18; 8:45 am] Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
associated veterinary service shortages 230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 2120,
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
within a State may require Chicago, IL 60604. They may also be
consideration of many qualitative and faxed to the Commission at (312) 353–
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
quantitative factors. In addition, each 8324, or emailed to Carolyn Allen at
shortage situation will be characterized COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
callen@usccr.gov. Persons who desire
by a different array of subjective and Notice of Public Meeting of the additional information may contact the
objective supportive information that Michigan Advisory Committee Regional Programs Office at (312) 353–
must be developed into a cogent case 8311.
identifying, characterizing, and AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil Records generated from this meeting
justifying a given geographic or Rights. may be inspected and reproduced at the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 19, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_53411/page/4.svg)
Document Created: 2018-10-20 01:50:28
Document Modified: 2018-10-20 01:50:28
| 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 and solicitation for nominations. | |
| Dates | Shortage situation nominations must be submitted not later than 30 days after the publication of this notice. | |
| Contact | Michelle Colby; National Program Leader; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2240 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2220; Voice: 202-401-4202; Fax: 833-208-8205; Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 53207 |
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