WASHINGTON, May 5, 1997 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to require that perimeter fencing be placed around outdoor areas of sheltered and outdoor housing facilities for cats, dogs, rabbits, marine mammals, and certain other animals.
"Adding this requirement for these additional categories of animals would serve to protect the safety and well being of the animals," said W. Ron DeHaven, acting deputy administrator for animal care with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA's marketing and regulatory programs mission area.
Although it has been APHIS' policy that such fences should be in place around sheltered and outdoor housing facilities for such animals, there have been no provisions in the regulations requiring their use.
APHIS officials believe that between 90 and 95 percent of the affected businesses already meet the proposed perimeter fence requirement.
This proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the May 6 Federal Register.
To provide input, send an original and three copies of written comments on or before July 7 to Docket number 95-029-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Comments received may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141 South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.
NOTE: USDA news releases, program announcements, and media
advisories are available on the Internet. Access the APHIS HOME
Page by pointing your Web browser to http://www.aphis.usda.gov
and clicking on http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/press/press.html APHIS Press Releases. Also, anyone with an
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