Ports Designated for the Exportation of Animals; Georgia

SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the ``Inspection and Handling of

Livestock for Exportation'' regulations by adding Atlanta Hartsfield

International Airport, Atlanta, GA, as a port of embarkation from which

animals may be exported from the United States and by adding three

Georgia facilities, the Atlanta Equine Complex in Atlanta, Tumbleweed

Farm in Mableton, and Southern Cross Ranch in Madison, to the list of

approved export inspection facilities. These proposed actions would

update the regulations by adding a port and three inspection facilities

through which animals may be processed for export.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or

before December 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to

Docket No. 96-054-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,

suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please

state that your comments refer to Docket No. 96-054-1. Comments

received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th

Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to

inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to

facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andrea Morgan, Senior Staff

Veterinarian, Import/Export Animals, National Center for Import and

Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231,

(301) 734-8354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The regulations in 9 CFR part 91, ``Inspection and Handling of

Livestock for Exportation'' (referred to below as the regulations),

prescribe conditions for exporting animals from the United States. The

regulations state, among other things, that all animals, except animals

being exported by land to Canada or Mexico, must be exported through

designated ports of embarkation.

Section 91.14(a) contains a list of designated ports of embarkation

and export inspection facilities. To receive designation as a port of

embarkation, a port must have export inspection facilities available

for the inspection, holding, feeding, and watering of animals prior to

exportation to ensure that the animals meet certain requirements

specified in the regulations. To receive approval as an export

inspection facility, the regulations provide that a facility must meet

specified standards in Sec. 91.14(c) concerning materials, size,

inspection implements, cleaning and disinfection, feed and water,

access, testing and treatment, location, disposal of animal wastes,

lighting, office and restroom facilities, and walkways.

We believe that the Atlanta Equine Complex, 1270 Woolman Place,

Atlanta, GA 30354, (404) 767-1700; Tumbleweed Farm, 1677 Buckner Road,

Mableton, GA 30059, (770) 948-3556; and Southern Cross Ranch, 1670

Bethany Church Road, Madison, GA 30650, (706) 342-8027, meet the

requirements of Sec. 94.14(c). The Atlanta Equine Complex is located at

the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport; Tumbleweed Farm is

located in the immediate vicinity of the airport; and Southern Cross

Ranch is located less than 60 miles from the airport. If these

facilities become approved export inspection facilities, veterinarians

of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service would conduct export

inspections of animals at these facilities by appointment. Exporters

using the Atlanta Equine Complex would have direct access to the

airport, and exporters using Tumbleweed Farm would be able to transport

their animals to the airport in approximately 15 minutes. Exporters

using Southern Cross Ranch would be able to transport their animals to

the airport in approximately 1 hour.

Therefore, we are proposing to amend Sec. 91.14(a) to add Atlanta

Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, GA, as a port of embarkation

and add the Atlanta Equine Center, Atlanta, GA, Tumbleweed Farm,

Mableton, GA, and Southern Cross Ranch, Madison, GA, to the list of

export inspection facilities.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866.

For this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its

review process required by Executive Order 12866.

This proposed rule would designate Atlanta Hartsfield International

Airport as a port of embarkation and three facilities in Georgia--the

Atlanta Equine Complex in Atlanta, Tumbleweed Farm in Mableton, and

Southern Cross Ranch in Madison--as approved export inspection

facilities. The Atlanta Equine Complex and Tumbleweed Farm are located

in the immediate vicinity of the Atlanta Hartsfield International

Airport. The location of Southern Cross Ranch is less than 60 miles

from the airport, or approximately an hour's driving time, and would

offer businesses within the Madison, GA, area a convenient alternative

location at which animals destined for export could receive

inspections.

We do not expect that designating these three facilities as export

inspection facilities and Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport as a

port of embarkation would have any adverse impact on businesses. These

proposed actions should benefit exporters of animals in the region by

reducing their animal transportation costs. Currently, the closest

designated ports of embarkation from which exporters in Georgia may

ship their animals are in Kentucky and Florida. From past export

activity in the area, we anticipate that, at least initially, if these

proposed actions are made final, a yearly average of about 50

exportations of animals, mostly horses and some goats, would take place

through Atlanta.

Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and

Plant

[[Page 52388]]

Health Inspection Service has determined that this action would 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 proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,

Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State

and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule

will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this

rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before

parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This proposed rule contains no 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 91

Animal diseases, Animal welfare, Exports, Livestock, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Accordingly, 9 CFR part 91 would be amended as follows:

PART 91--INSPECTION AND HANDLING OF LIVESTOCK FOR EXPORTATION

1. The authority citation for part 91 would continue to read as

follows:

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 105, 112, 113, 114a, 120, 121, 134b, 134f,

136, 136a, 612, 613, 614, 618; 46 U.S.C. 466a, 466b; 49 U.S.C.

1509(d); 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

2. In Sec. 91.14, paragraphs (a)(3) through (a)(17) would be

redesignated as paragraphs (a)(4) through (a)(18), and a new paragraph

(a)(3) would be added to read as follows.

Sec. 91.14 Ports of embarkation and export inspection facilities.

(a) * * *

(3) Georgia.

(i) Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport.

(A) Atlanta Equine Complex, 1270 Woolman Place, Atlanta, GA 30354,

(404) 767-1700.

(B) Tumbleweed Farm (horses only), 1677 Buckner Road, Mableton, GA

30059, (770) 948-3556.

(C) Southern Cross Ranch (horses only), 1670 Bethany Church Road,

Madison, GA 30650, (706) 342-8027.

* * * * *

Done in Washington, DC, this 1st day of October 1996.

A. Strating,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 96-25638 Filed 10-04-96; 8:45 am]

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