[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 3, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 34747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16997]
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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. 61, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 3, 1996 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 34747]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 11
[Docket No. 96-037-1]
Horse Protection; Public Meetings
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting a series of public meetings to
discuss proposed enforcement changes to the current Horse Protection
Act. These proposals have been developed and are outlined in the APHIS
``Strategic Plan'' for Horse Protection. The development of the
strategic plan is in line with our commitment to ensure appropriate
care for horses regulated under the Horse Protection Act. We are
reviewing the current regulations and standards promulgated under the
Horse Protection Act, and are seeking recommendations and opinions from
affected industries and other concerned members of the public to
determine which revisions are necessary and appropriate in order to
further reduce the incidence of soring and improve enforcement.
DATES: The first meeting will be held in Murfreesboro, TN, on July 26,
1996. The second meeting will be held in St. Louis, MO, on August 2,
1996. The third meeting will be held in Sacramento, CA, on August 16,
1996. Each meeting will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at the following locations:
1. Murfreesboro, TN: Middle Tennessee State University, Loop Drive,
James Union Building, Tennessee Room, Murfreesboro, TN, (615) 898-2797.
If traveling from Nashville, take I-24 to exit 78, then head east on
Highway 96 (Old Fort Parkway) to Memorial Boulevard (Highway 231). Turn
right on Clark Boulevard, then left onto Greenland Drive. Park in the
Greenland Drive parking lot and take the shuttle bus to the James Union
Building.
2. St. Louis, MO: The Adams Mark Hotel, Fourth and Chestnut, St. Louis,
MO, (314) 241-7400. If traveling from Lambert International Airport,
take I-70 east to the Gateway Arch exit. The Adams Mark Hotel is
located at the corner of Fourth and Chestnut.
3. Sacramento, CA: Red Lion Hotel, Red Lion Ballroom, Sierra and
Cascade Sections, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, CA, (916) 929-8855.
The Red Lion Hotel is at the corner of Point West Way and Arden Way.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John V. Zisk, Director, Horse
Protection, Animal Care Staff, REAC, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road Unit
84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234, (301) 734-7833. Copies of the ``Strategic
Plan'' are available through this office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The practice known as ``soring'' is the
causing of suffering in show horses to affect their performance in the
show ring. Under the Horse Protection Act (HPA) (11 U.S.C. et seq.),
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible
for eliminating the practice of soring, by prohibiting the showing or
selling of sored horses.
APHIS believes the regulations and standards established in
accordance with the HPA may need to be updated, and APHIS officials
have proposed program changes through a ``Strategic Plan.'' In this
plan, we have reviewed which areas of enforcement may require a change
in regulations and standards based on our experience and knowledge of
the program. In developing these proposed changes and conducting this
review, APHIS is seeking recommendations and opinions regarding the
following: The enforcement of the HPA by USDA-certified horse industry
organizations; the certification status of horse industry
organizations; uniform systems of rules, regulations, and penalties;
training and research. As a forum for such recommendations and
opinions, APHIS will hold three meetings to gather input from the
public, including equine protection organizations and members of
affected industries, such as the walking horse industry and related
equine organizations. The meetings will include four workshops
facilitated by trained APHIS facilitators, as follows:
(1) Self-regulatory enforcement of the HPA by USDA-certified horse
industry organizations;
(2) USDA certifications of horse industry organizations;
(3) Uniform rules, regulations, and penalty systems; and
(4) Training and research under the HPA.
In these workshops, group participation will be used to develop
recommendations within specific topic areas. After the workshops have
concluded, each workshop group will report its recommendations to the
entire meeting.
APHIS will consider the recommendations received in developing any
revisions to the current HPA regulations and standards. The Agency will
initiate rulemaking for any changes deemed appropriate.
Each of the workshops will be conducted twice at each meeting, once
in the morning and once in the afternoon. Participants who intend to
attend a full 1-day meeting are asked to register for only one workshop
for the morning and a different workshop for the afternoon. Attendance
may be limited for some workshops because of space availability.
Registration will be held the day of each meeting between 7:30 a.m.
and 8:30 a.m. at the entrance of the general assembly meeting rooms.
The general sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. Any person who is unable
to attend the meetings, but who wishes to comment on any of the topics
covered by the four workshops, may send written comments to the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of June 1996.
Terry L. Medley,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-16997 Filed 7-2-96; 8:45 am]
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