[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 220 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29179]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 220 / Monday, November 16, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 70718]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 54 and 79

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127]


Scrapie in Sheep and Goats

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that 
would revise completely the scrapie regulations, which concern the risk 
groups and categories established for individual animals and for 
flocks, the use of genetic testing as a means of assigning risk levels 
to animals, movement restrictions for animals found to be genetically 
less susceptible or resistant to scrapie, and recordkeeping 
requirements. This action will allow interested persons additional time 
to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on September 
10, 2015 (80 FR 54660-54692) is reopened. We will consider all comments 
that we receive on or before December 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2007-0127.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127, 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-2007-
0127 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. Diane Sutton, National Scrapie 
Program Coordinator, Sheep, Goat, Cervid & Equine Health Center, 
Surveillance, Preparedness and Response Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1235; (301) 851-3509.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 10, 2015, we published in the 
Federal Register (80 FR 54660-54692, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127) a 
proposal to revise completely the scrapie regulations in 9 CFR parts 54 
and 79, which concern the risk groups and categories established for 
individual animals and for flocks, the use of genetic testing as a 
means of assigning risk levels to animals, movement restrictions for 
animals found to be genetically less susceptible or resistant to 
scrapie, and recordkeeping requirements.
    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before November 9, 2015. We are reopening the comment period on Docket 
No. APHIS-2007-0127 for an additional 30 days until December 9, 2015. 
We will also consider all comments received between November 9, 2015, 
and the date of this notice. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301-8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of November 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-29179 Filed 11-13-15; 8:45 am]
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