Jessica Milteer (301) 734-3265
Angela Harless (202) 720-4623
WASHINGTON, March 28, 2008--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is extending the comment period by 30 days on a proposal to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations for transportation of live animals excluding marine mammals.
The goal of the proposed rule is to remove the current ambient temperature requirements for various stages in the transportation of regulated animals. If adopted, this proposed rule would replace those requirements with a single performance standard under which the animals would be transported under climatic and environment conditions that are appropriate for their welfare. In addition, the proposal therefore would make the issuance of acclimation certificates for live animals other than marine mammals unnecessary.
This proposal also would require transport compartments on aircraft to be opened during prolonged layovers, as well as the use of ground equipment to maintain appropriate conditions in the cargo hold during the layover.
This proposal replaces a June 1999 proposed rule, which was withdrawn. This proposal does not address marine mammals due to their unique requirements for care and handling.
Notice of this extension was published in the March 18 Federal Register.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before April 17. Send an original and two copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 99-014-3, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Comment can be submitted on the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main= DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2006-0150. Click on “Add Comments” to view public comments and related materials available electronically.
Comments are posted on the Reglations.gov Web site and also can be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.
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