E8-17591. Minimum Age Requirements for the Transport of Animals

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

SUMMARY:

We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations by adding minimum age requirements for the transport in commerce of animals. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before September 2, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/​fdmspublic/​component/​main?​main=​DocketDetail&​d=​APHIS-2006-0024 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0024, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0024.

Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room 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 [phone] before coming.

Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On May 9, 2008, we published in the Federal Register (73 FR 26344-26349, Docket No. APHIS-2006-0024) a proposal to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations by adding minimum age requirements for the transport in commerce of animals.

Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or before July 8, 2008. We are reopening the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2006-0024 for an additional 30 days beyond this notice. We will also consider all comments received between July 9, 2008 (the day after the close of the original comment period) and the date of this notice. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a: 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136(a); 44 U.S.C. 35; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 25th day of July 2008.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.