USDA Releases New Technical Document
This summer, the US House of Representatives stated that the USDA had to prepare and release a detailed plan to implement NAIS in order to receive new funding for the program. USDA announced back in August that a "Business Plan" would be released shortly. While it's true that the USDA released something yesterday, December 5, in the Federal Register, it is far from a Business Plan.
We do not want to see USDA develop plans for implementing NAIS, because the whole program should be stopped. But we know that they have done so behind closed doors. USDA's delay in making its plan public confirms its disdain for our legislative process and the people Congress represents.
TAKE ACTION: Comment on NAIS. In yesterday's announcement, USDA stated that it seeks comments on the Revised Program Standards and Technical Reference documents or other aspects of NAIS. So you can comment on the new document and all of the many other problems with NAIS. The Notice did not include a deadline for comments.
Send your comments to: animalidcomments@aphis.usda.gov, or by mail to NAIS
Program Staff, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737.
Be sure to send a copy of your comments to your Representative and Senators. You can find their contact information at www.congress.org. It is critical that Congress knows that people are notifying USDA of their objections to NAIS and that your Congressmen understand your objections!
More Information - The Documents
You can find the USDA's Federal Register Notice at:
http://a257.g.akamaitechnet/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-23524.htm.
The Notice refers to an updated set of of Program Standards and Technical Reference, originally published with the 2005 NAIS documents. USDA did not provide a link to the updated documents, so you find updates only by searching their website. Go to the NAIS Library Link: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/naislibrary/index.shtml. Then choose: Guidelines & References > Program Standards and Technical Reference
The closest thing USDA has to a Business Plan is its publication "Advancing Animal Disease Traceability" which contains USDA's proposed 7 strategies to implementing NAIS. You can find this document, published October 2007, by going to the NAIS Library Link:
http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/naislibrary/index.shtml. Then choose Plans and Reports > Advancing Animal Disease Traceability Overview and Synopsis.
What do these documents tell us?
• USDA continues to ignore the rising protests over NAIS, and is working hard to develop the technology and infrastructure for NAIS.
• USDA continues to hide whatever its plans are, by dribbling out partial announcements.
• USDA will continue to fund private organizations and states to implement NAIS (See Advancing Animal Disease Traceability Overview and Synopsis)
• USDA plans a complete, unified database for all animals.
Stay tuned for more analysis of the USDA's latest document and the Business Plan, whenever the USDA finally releases it! We will also post the documents on our website soon, as well as provide sample letters to help you structure your comments.
Email and Contact Issues
Liberty Ark Supporters: The Liberty Ark mailing list is down, which is why you are getting this email through the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. You can still reach the Liberty Ark steering committee at noah@libertyark.net if you have any questions.
FARFA List: As always, you can reach us at info@farmandranchfreedom.org or 866-687-6452 with any questions.
Working together, we can make our voices heard.
Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
www.farmandranchfreedom.org
866-687-6452
Good Neighbor Committee
P.O. Box 155 - La Salle, CO 80645
info@goodneighborlaw.com
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