Texas (Splenetic) Fever in Cattle; Incorporation by Reference

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are amending the Texas (splenetic) fever in cattle regulations by updating the incorporation by reference of the Texas Animal Health Commission's regulations that contain the description of the areas in Texas quarantined because of ticks. This action is necessary to update the incorporation by reference to reflect the Texas Animal Health Commission's changes to the organization of its regulations that describe the quarantined area.

DATES:

This rule is effective February 24, 2004. The incorporation by reference provided for by this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 24, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Glen Garris, Assistant Associate Deputy Administrator for National Animal Health Policy and Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 33, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-5875.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The regulations in 9 CFR part 72, Texas (Splenetic) Fever in Cattle (referred to below as the regulations), restrict the interstate movement of cattle from areas quarantined because of ticks that are vectors of bovine babesiosis. This disease is referred to in the regulations as splenetic or tick fever. Splenetic or tick fever is a contagious, infectious, and communicable disease of cattle that causes cattle to become weak and dehydrated and can cause death.

Section 72.3 quarantines Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Previously, § 72.5 specifically described the area in Texas that was quarantined because of ticks. However, in a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 30, 1999 (64 FR 41265-41266, Docket No. 96-067-2), we replaced that description with an incorporation by reference of the Texas Animal Health Commission's (TAHC) regulations in § 41.2 of title 4, part II, Texas Administrative Code (4 TAC 41.2), that describe the quarantined area in Texas. The effective date of the TAHC regulations that we incorporated by reference was July 22, 1994.

In a rule effective on April 8, 2001, the TAHC amended the tick quarantine zone described in 4 TAC 41.2; consequently, we amended the incorporation by reference in our regulations in § 72.5 to reflect the effective date of the amended TAHC regulations (see 67 FR 18466-18467, Docket No. 01-110-1).

In a final rule published in the Texas Register on June 14, 2002, and effective June 23, 2002 (27 TexReg 5175-5176), the TAHC revised, in their entirety, its regulations concerning fever ticks. In that final rule, the TAHC reorganized its regulations to list each county containing quarantined areas in a separate section. Thus, the description of the quarantined area that had been found in 4 TAC 41.2 is now distributed across §§ 41.14 through 41.22 of title 4, part II, Texas Administrative Code. The boundaries of the quarantined areas described were not affected by this reorganization.

Therefore, in order for our regulations to reflect the TAHC's reorganization of its regulations concerning fever ticks, we are amending the incorporation by reference in § 72.5 to cite 4 TAC 41.14 through 41.22 as the location of the TAHC's regulations describing areas quarantined for fever ticks and to specify the June 23, 2002, effective date of the current TAHC regulations.

Effective Date

We are taking this action to update our regulations with respect to changes that have already occurred in the organization of the TAHC's regulations that describe the areas of Texas quarantined because of ticks. It does not appear that public participation in this rulemaking proceeding would make additional relevant information available to the Department.

Accordingly, pursuant to the administrative procedure provisions in 5 U.S.C. 553, we find upon good cause that prior notice and other public procedure with respect to this rule are unnecessary. We also find good cause for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. For this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its review under Executive Order 12866.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) regulations in 9 CFR part 72 restrict the interstate movement of cattle from areas quarantined because of the presence of ticks that are vectors of bovine babesiosis, also known as splenetic or tick fever. The TAHC's regulations describing the quarantined area in Texas are incorporated by reference in APHIS' regulations in § 72.5.

This rule updates the incorporation by reference in § 72.5 so that it reflects the changes made by the TAHC to its regulations describing the quarantined areas in Texas. The amendments in this rule are entirely administrative in nature, thus we do not expect this rule will have an economic effect on any entities, large or small.

Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Executive Order 12372

This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)

Executive Order 12988

This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and regulations that are in conflict with this rule; (2) has no retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This interim rule contains no new information collection or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 72

• Animal diseases
• Cattle
• Incorporation by reference
• Quarantine
• Transportation

Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR part 72 as follows:

PART 72—TEXAS (SPLENETIC) FEVER IN CATTLE

1. The authority citation for part 72 continues to read as follows:

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

2. Section 72.5 is revised to read as follows: