81 FR 41257 - Petition To Amend Animal Welfare Act Regulations To Prohibit Public Contact With Big Cats, Bears, and Nonhuman Primates
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 122 (June 24, 2016)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 122 (June 24, 2016)
| Page Range | 41257-41258 | |
| FR Document | 2016-14976 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2016)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 41257-41258] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-14976] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 9 CFR Parts 2 and 3 [Docket No. APHIS-2012-0107] Petition To Amend Animal Welfare Act Regulations To Prohibit Public Contact With Big Cats, Bears, and Nonhuman Primates AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period for a petition requesting amendments to the Animal Welfare Act regulations and standards pertaining to physical contact with dangerous animals. We are especially interested in receiving public comments on the additional questions included in this notice. We are providing information about upcoming virtual stakeholder listening sessions and other efforts intended to gather additional public comment. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments and further inform our thinking on the handling of dangerous animals. DATES: The comment period for the notice published on August 5, 2013 (78 FR 47215) and reopened on October 24, 2013 (78 FR 63408) is reopened. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 31, 2016. The virtual listening sessions described in this notice will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. eastern time (ET); Wednesday, July 6, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET; and Thursday, August 4, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. Registration is required to participate in the listening sessions. Links for registering to participate in the virtual listening sessions are included in the Web site in footnote 2 below. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0107. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2012-0107, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737- 1238. Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012- 0107 or in our reading room, which 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 (202) 799-7039 before coming. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 851-3751. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2013, we published in the Federal Register (78 FR 47215-47217, Docket No. APHIS-2012-0107) a notice \1\ making available for comment a petition requesting amendments to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations and standards, including amendments to prohibit licensees from allowing individuals, with certain exceptions, from coming into direct or physical contact with big cats, bears, or nonhuman primates of any age, to define the term ``sufficient distance,'' and to prohibit the public handling of young or immature big cats, bears, and nonhuman primates. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ To view the notice, petition, and the comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0107. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments were required to be received on or before October 4, 2013. In a subsequent notice published October 24, 2013 (78 FR 63408), we reopened the comment period for an additional 45 days to November 18, 2013. We received 15,379 comments. We are again reopening the comment period and will accept all comments we receive on or before August 31, 2016. [[Page 41258]] We are especially interested in receiving public comments on the questions presented below. Responses to these questions will help further inform our thinking on the handling of dangerous animals: 1. What factors and characteristics should determine if a type of animal is suitable for public contact? When the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) describes an animal as dangerous, there are certain characteristics we use to classify the animals, such as the size, strength, and instinctual behavior of an animal, risk of disease transmission between animals and humans (i.e., zoonoses such as Herpes B), and ability to safely and humanely handle (or control) the animal in all situations. 2. What animals should APHIS consider including under the definition of dangerous animals? For example, are all nonhuman primates dangerous? We currently identify some animals as dangerous, including, but not limited to, nondomestic felids (such as lions, tigers, jaguars, mountain lions, cheetahs, and any hybrids thereof), wolves, bears, certain nonhuman primates (such as gorillas, chimps, and macaques), elephants, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, moose, bison, camels, and common animals known to carry rabies. 3. What animals may pose a public health risk and why? What risks does public contact with dangerous animals present to the individual animal and the species and why? 4. What are the best methods of permanent, usable animal identification for dangerous animals? 5. What are the most humane training techniques to use with dangerous animals? 6. What scientific information (peer-reviewed journals preferred) is available that identifies the appropriate weaning ages for nondomestic felids, bears, elephants, wolves, nonhuman primates, and other dangerous animals? 7. What industry, organizational, or governmental standards have been published for the handling and care of dangerous animals? 8. What constitutes sufficient barriers for enclosures around dangerous animals to keep members of the public away from the animals? What methods (structures, distance, attendants, etc.) are needed to prevent entry of the public into an enclosure and keep the animal safe while still allowing for meaningful viewing? In addition to inviting the public to comment on these questions, we are making available for the public a Web site \2\ containing background information on the topics explained in this notice. We also plan to convene three virtual listening sessions during the summer, allowing stakeholders to participate regardless of their location before the close of the public comment period. The dates of each virtual listening session are as follows: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/Handling-Dangerous-Animals-Feedback-Page. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 29, 2016, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. eastern time (ET); July 6, 2016, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET; and August 4, 2016, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. Persons wishing to participate in the virtual listening sessions are required to register prior to the session. Links for registering to participate in each listening session are included in the Web site in footnote 2. Upon registration, participants will be provided with a call-in number and access code. The virtual listening sessions will provide the public with opportunities to share their views on the handling of dangerous animals and provide us with additional material to inform our thinking on this topic. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.7. Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of June 2016. William H. Clay, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2016-14976 Filed 6-23-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules 41257
Switzerland Latah eastern time (ET); Wednesday, July 6,
Union Lewis 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET; and
Kentucky: Nez Perce Thursday, August 4, 2016, from 1 p.m.
Bracken Shoshone to 3 p.m. ET. Registration is required to
Carroll Washington:
Gallatin Adams
participate in the listening sessions.
Grant Asotin Links for registering to participate in the
Mason Chelan (Does not include the North Cas- virtual listening sessions are included in
Pendleton cades National Park portion) the Web site in footnote 2 below.
Ohio: Douglas ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
Adams Ferry by either of the following methods:
Brown Garfield • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
Butler Grant http://www.regulations.gov/
Highland Kittitas (Does not include the Yakima #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0107.
Firing Range portion) • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
* * * * * Lincoln
Dayton Okanogan
Send your comment to Docket No.
Ohio: Pend Oreille APHIS–2012–0107, Regulatory Analysis
Champaign Stevens and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
Clark Whitman 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Greene Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Miami * * * * * Supporting documents and any
Montgomery [FR Doc. 2016–14912 Filed 6–23–16; 8:45 am] comments we receive on this docket
Preble may be viewed at http://
BILLING CODE 6325–39–P
Area of Application. Survey area plus: www.regulations.gov/
Indiana: #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0107 or
Randolph in our reading room, which is located in
Wayne DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE room 1141 of the USDA South Building,
Ohio: 14th Street and Independence Avenue
Auglaize Animal and Plant Health Inspection
SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading
Clinton Service
Darke
room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Logan Monday through Friday, except
9 CFR Parts 2 and 3
Shelby holidays. To be sure someone is there to
[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0107] help you, please call (202) 799–7039
* * * * * before coming.
WASHINGTON Petition To Amend Animal Welfare Act FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Regulations To Prohibit Public Contact Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian,
* * * * * With Big Cats, Bears, and Nonhuman
Southeastern Washington-Eastern Oregon
Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Primates Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737–1234;
Survey Area
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health (301) 851–3751.
Oregon:
Inspection Service, USDA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Umatilla
Washington: On August 5, 2013, we published in
ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment
Benton the Federal Register (78 FR 47215–
period.
Franklin 47217, Docket No. APHIS–2012–0107) a
Walla Walla SUMMARY: We are reopening the notice 1 making available for comment a
Yakima comment period for a petition petition requesting amendments to the
Area of Application. Survey area plus: requesting amendments to the Animal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations
Oregon: Welfare Act regulations and standards and standards, including amendments
Baker to prohibit licensees from allowing
pertaining to physical contact with
Grant individuals, with certain exceptions,
Harney dangerous animals. We are especially
Malheur interested in receiving public comments from coming into direct or physical
Morrow on the additional questions included in contact with big cats, bears, or
Union this notice. We are providing nonhuman primates of any age, to
Wallowa information about upcoming virtual define the term ‘‘sufficient distance,’’
Wheeler stakeholder listening sessions and other and to prohibit the public handling of
Washington: efforts intended to gather additional young or immature big cats, bears, and
Columbia nonhuman primates.
public comment. This action will allow
Kittitas (Only includes the Yakima Firing Comments were required to be
Range portion) interested persons additional time to
prepare and submit comments and received on or before October 4, 2013.
Spokane In a subsequent notice published
further inform our thinking on the
Survey Area October 24, 2013 (78 FR 63408), we
handling of dangerous animals.
Washington: reopened the comment period for an
DATES: The comment period for the
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Spokane additional 45 days to November 18,
notice published on August 5, 2013 (78
Area of Application. Survey area plus: 2013. We received 15,379 comments.
FR 47215) and reopened on October 24, We are again reopening the comment
Idaho:
2013 (78 FR 63408) is reopened. We will period and will accept all comments we
Benewah
Bonner consider all comments that we receive receive on or before August 31, 2016.
Boundary on or before August 31, 2016. The
Clearwater virtual listening sessions described in 1 To view the notice, petition, and the comments
Idaho this notice will be held on Wednesday, we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/
Kootenai June 29, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0107.
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![41258 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules
We are especially interested in receiving site 2 containing background The NRC previously denied 9 of these
public comments on the questions information on the topics explained in requests and accepted 1 request for
presented below. Responses to these this notice. We also plan to convene consideration in the rulemaking
questions will help further inform our three virtual listening sessions during process. Two remaining requests were
thinking on the handling of dangerous the summer, allowing stakeholders to reserved for future rulemaking
animals: participate regardless of their location determinations. The purpose of this
1. What factors and characteristics before the close of the public comment Federal Register notice is to announce
should determine if a type of animal is period. The dates of each virtual the NRC’s final decision to deny these
suitable for public contact? When the listening session are as follows: two remaining requests.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection • June 29, 2016, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. DATES: The docket for the petition for
Service (APHIS) describes an animal as eastern time (ET); rulemaking, PRM–72–6, is closed on
dangerous, there are certain • July 6, 2016, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET; June 24, 2016.
characteristics we use to classify the and ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
animals, such as the size, strength, and • August 4, 2016, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. NRC–2008–0649 when contacting the
instinctual behavior of an animal, risk of Persons wishing to participate in the
NRC about the availability of
disease transmission between animals virtual listening sessions are required to
information for this action. You may
and humans (i.e., zoonoses such as register prior to the session. Links for
obtain publicly-available information
Herpes B), and ability to safely and registering to participate in each
related to this action by any of the
humanely handle (or control) the animal listening session are included in the
following methods:
in all situations. Web site in footnote 2. Upon • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
registration, participants will be http://www.regulations.gov and search
2. What animals should APHIS provided with a call-in number and for Docket ID NRC–2008–0649. Address
consider including under the definition access code. The virtual listening
of dangerous animals? For example, are questions about NRC dockets to Carol
sessions will provide the public with Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
all nonhuman primates dangerous? We opportunities to share their views on the email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
currently identify some animals as handling of dangerous animals and technical questions, contact the
dangerous, including, but not limited to, provide us with additional material to individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER
nondomestic felids (such as lions, tigers, inform our thinking on this topic. INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
jaguars, mountain lions, cheetahs, and
any hybrids thereof), wolves, bears, Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131–2159; 7 CFR 2.22, document.
certain nonhuman primates (such as 2.80, and 371.7. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
gorillas, chimps, and macaques), Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of Access and Management System
elephants, hippopotamuses, June 2016. (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
rhinoceroses, moose, bison, camels, and William H. Clay, available documents online in the
common animals known to carry rabies. Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant ADAMS Public Documents collection at
3. What animals may pose a public Health Inspection Service. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
health risk and why? What risks does [FR Doc. 2016–14976 Filed 6–23–16; 8:45 am] adams.html. To begin the search, select
public contact with dangerous animals BILLING CODE 3410–34–P ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
present to the individual animal and the select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
species and why? Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
4. What are the best methods of NUCLEAR REGULATORY please contact the NRC’s Public
permanent, usable animal identification COMMISSION Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
for dangerous animals? 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
10 CFR Part 72 email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
5. What are the most humane training
ADAMS accession number for each
techniques to use with dangerous [Docket No. PRM–72–6; NRC–2008–0649]
document referenced (if it is available in
animals?
Petition for Rulemaking Submitted by ADAMS) is provided the first time that
6. What scientific information (peer- it is mentioned in the SUPPLEMENTARY
reviewed journals preferred) is available C–10 Research and Education
Foundation, Inc. INFORMATION section.
that identifies the appropriate weaning • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
ages for nondomestic felids, bears, AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory purchase copies of public documents at
elephants, wolves, nonhuman primates, Commission. the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
and other dangerous animals? ACTION: Petition for rulemaking; denial. White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
7. What industry, organizational, or Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
governmental standards have been SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
published for the handling and care of Commission (NRC) is denying Requests Torre Taylor, telephone: 301–415–7900,
dangerous animals? 4 and 9 of a petition for rulemaking email: Torre.Taylor@nrc.gov; or Haile
8. What constitutes sufficient barriers (PRM), dated November 24, 2008, filed Lindsay, telephone: 301–415–0616,
for enclosures around dangerous by Ms. Sandra Gavutis, Executive email: Haile.Lindsay@nrc.gov; both of
animals to keep members of the public Director of C–10 Research and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety
away from the animals? What methods Education Foundation, Inc. (the and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
(structures, distance, attendants, etc.) petitioner). The petitioner requested Commission, Washington DC 20555–
are needed to prevent entry of the that the NRC amend its regulations 0001.
public into an enclosure and keep the concerning dry cask safety, security,
transferability, and longevity. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
animal safe while still allowing for
meaningful viewing? petitioner made 12 specific requests. I. The Petition
In addition to inviting the public to 2 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/ Section 2.802 of title 10 of the Code
comment on these questions, we are animalwelfare/Handling-Dangerous-Animals- of Federal Regulations (10 CFR),
making available for the public a Web Feedback-Page. ‘‘Petition for rulemaking,’’ provides an
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Document Created: 2016-06-24 00:53:06
Document Modified: 2016-06-24 00:53:06
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice; reopening of comment period. | |
| Dates | The comment period for the notice published on August 5, 2013 (78 FR 47215) and reopened on October 24, 2013 (78 FR 63408) is reopened. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 31, 2016. The virtual listening sessions described in this notice will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. eastern time (ET); Wednesday, July 6, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET; and Thursday, August 4, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. Registration is required to participate in the listening sessions. Links for registering to participate in the virtual listening sessions are included in the Web site in footnote 2 below. | |
| Contact | Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 851-3751. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 41257 | |
| CFR Citation | 9
CFR
2 9 CFR 3 |
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