81 FR 65307 - Horse Protection; Licensing of Designated Qualified Persons and Other Amendments

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 184 (September 22, 2016)

We are extending the comment period for our proposed rule to amend the horse protection regulations to provide that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will train and license inspectors to inspect horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions for compliance with the Horse Protection Act. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We are also making a clarification to the proposed regulations pertaining to specific prohibitions concerning exhibitors.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65307]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22855]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 184 / Thursday, September 22, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 65307]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 11

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0009]
RIN 0579-AE19


Horse Protection; Licensing of Designated Qualified Persons and 
Other Amendments

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and clarification.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our proposed rule to 
amend the horse protection regulations to provide that the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service will train and license inspectors to 
inspect horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions for 
compliance with the Horse Protection Act. This action will allow 
interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We 
are also making a clarification to the proposed regulations pertaining 
to specific prohibitions concerning exhibitors.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on July 26, 
2016 (81 FR 49112) is extended. We will consider all comments that we 
receive on or before October 26, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0009.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0009, 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-2011-
0009 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. Kay Carter-Corker, Director, 
National Policy Staff, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3751.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 26, 2016, we published in the Federal Register (81 FR 
49112-49137, Docket No. APHIS-2011-0009) a proposal to revise the Horse 
Protection Act regulations in 9 CFR part 11 to improve our enforcement 
of the Act and regulations. The proposed rule provides that the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will train and license 
inspectors to inspect horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and 
auctions for compliance with the Horse Protection Act. The proposed 
rule also proposes changes to the list of devices, equipment, 
substances, and practices that can cause soring or are otherwise 
prohibited under the Act and regulations, as well as other amendments 
pertaining to horse inspections and show management.
    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before September 26, 2016. We are extending the comment period on 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0009 for an additional 30 days. This action will 
allow interested persons more time to prepare and submit comments.

Clarification

    As part of our proposed rule, we proposed to retitle Sec.  11.2 as 
``Prohibited actions, practices, devices, and substances'' and to 
prohibit all action devices, pads, and substances applied to a horse's 
limbs. Also prohibited is any practice involving a horse, and, as a 
result of such practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be 
expected to suffer, physical pain or distress, inflammation, or 
lameness when walking, trotting, or otherwise moving. These proposed 
changes were intended to successfully and significantly reduce the 
number of sored horses shown, exhibited, sold, and auctioned. In our 
proposed changes to Sec.  11.2, we included provisions in proposed 
paragraph (a)(3) of that section stating that the use of any weight on 
horses up to 2 years old, except a keg or similar conventional 
horseshoe is prohibited, as is the use of a horseshoe on horses up to 2 
years old that weighs more than 16 ounces. In keeping with the intent 
of our other proposed changes, we are considering changing proposed 
paragraph (a)(3) to read ``The use of any weight on horses, except a 
keg or similar conventional horseshoe, is prohibited.'' We will 
consider all comments we received on this provision throughout the 
comment period so that those who have already commented know we will 
continue to consider their views.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1823-1825 and 1828; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 
371.7.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of September 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22855 Filed 9-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P