[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49468-49469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25069]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-001-2]
Handling, Training, and Exhibition of Potentially Dangerous
Exotic or Wild Animals
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of reopening and extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our
notice requesting information concerning what practices are currently
used for handling and training potentially dangerous exotic or wild
[[Page 49469]]
animals used in exhibition (such as, but not limited to, elephants,
lions, or tigers), and what training and experience levels trainers and
handlers of such animals have. This reopening and extension will
provide interested groups and individuals with additional time to
prepare comments on the request for information.
DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments on Docket No. 97-
001-1 that are received on or before November 6, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to
Docket No. 97-001-1, 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. 97-001-1. Comments
received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th
Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8:00 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: Mr. Stephen Smith, Staff Animal Health
Technician, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD
20737-1234, (301) 734-7833.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 24, 1997, we published in the Federal Register (62 FR
39802, Docket No. 97-001-1) a notice requesting information concerning
the training and handling of potentially dangerous wild and exotic
animals used in exhibition in order to obtain a better understanding of
the issues pertaining to their welfare.
Comments on the request for information were required to be
received on or before September 22, 1997. We received two requests to
extend the period during which comments will be accepted. The requests
were from an animal welfare organization and an industry association.
In response, we are reopening and extending the comment period on
Docket No. 97-001-1 for an additional 45 days. This action will allow
interested groups and individuals additional time to prepare and submit
comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(g).
Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of September 1997.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25069 Filed 9-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
