[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18179-18180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9744]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 71 / Tuesday, April 14, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 18179]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-008-2]


Public Meeting; Animal Care

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This is the second notice to animal researchers, exhibitors, 
dealers, transporters, animal protection groups, and other interested 
persons that we are holding a public meeting to discuss current Animal 
Welfare Act issues and initiatives. This notice also announces the 
agenda for the public meeting.
PLACE, DATES, AND TIMES OF MEETING: The public meeting will be held at 
the USDA Conference Center, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737, on 
Tuesday, May 12, 1998. Registration will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 
a.m. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the meeting 
agenda, contact Dr. Dick Watkins, Initiatives Coordinator, Animal Care, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737, (301) 734-7687.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) previously announced that it was scheduling a public 
meeting to discuss the animal welfare program and initiatives in 
Riverdale, MD, on Tuesday, May 12, 1998 (See 63 FR 6704, February 10, 
1998, Docket No. 98-008-1). In its advance notice for the meeting, 
APHIS requested that interested persons submit topics to be included in 
the meeting's agenda. Based on the submissions received and other 
considerations, the agenda for the public meeting includes, but is not 
limited to, the following:

9 a.m.--12:00 p.m.--General Session.
1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.--Break-out sessions.
The General Session will include updates by Animal Care officials on 
current Animal Welfare Act issues and program initiatives, as well as 
presentations by industry and animal interest organizations. We are 
currently scheduling the following break-out sessions, which will run 
concurrently:

Dealers/Auctions
Exhibitors
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Issues
Research
Transportation

Please note that this meeting is being held to exchange information 
between Animal Care, the public, and stakeholders. It is not an 
opportunity to submit formal comments on proposed rules or other 
regulatory initiatives.

Advance Registration

    Advance registration is requested by May 6, 1998. Attendance may be 
limited based on public response. If interested, FAX your registration 
request to (301) 734-4328 or (301) 734-4978, or send e-mail to Animal 
Care at [email protected]. Include your name, complete mailing 
address, and telephone and fax numbers. Please indicate your first and 
second preference for break-out sessions. For additional registration 
information, contact Sue Gallagher, Program Specialist, Animal Care, on 
(301) 734-8877.

Travel Information

    If traveling to the metro area by air, Baltimore-Washington 
International (BWI) and Ronald Reagan National Airports are each 
located within 1 hour's drive from the USDA Center. Airport shuttle 
services are available via independent contracted service fleets. Check 
with your hotel desk for additional shuttle or taxi information, or 
phone Super Shuttle (BWI and National Airports) on (800) 258-3826 or 
(410) 859-0803, or Airport Connection (BWI Airport) on (800) 284-6066 
or (301) 352-2400.
    The USDA center is located less than 1 mile from the College Park 
metro rail station (Green Line--Greenbelt/Fort Totten). Bus service is 
provided between the College Park station and the USDA Center by both 
Metrobus (F6 and R12 bus lines) and select University of Maryland 
Shuttle buses. The University of Maryland Shuttle offers complimentary 
transportation.
    If traveling by car, please note that a fee of $2.00 is required to 
enter the parking lot at the USDA center.

Security Procedures

    Upon entering the building, visitors should inform security 
personnel that they are attending the Animal Care public meeting. 
Identification is required. Security personnel will direct visitors to 
the registration tables located outside the conference center on the 
first floor. Registration is necessary for all participants, even if 
advance registration was completed. Badges must be worn throughout the 
day.

Lodging Information

    We encourage out-of-town participants to make reservations as soon 
as possible due to potential peak volumes at local hotels at the time 
of the meeting. Rooms at all hotels are on a space available basis. The 
following hotels are located in the Riverdale area:

Greenbelt Holiday Inn, 7200 Hanover Drive, Greenbelt, MD 20770, (800) 
280-4188, (301) 982-7000
A limited number of rooms have been reserved at a rate of $75.00 plus 
tax at the Greenbelt Holiday Inn. Callers must identify themselves as 
``Animal Care Public Meeting'' attendees when making reservations. 
Hotel shuttle service is available to and from the USDA Center. Make 
arrangements with Holiday Inn front desk.

College Park Holiday Inn, 10000 Baltimore Blvd, College Park, MD 20740, 
(800) 465-4329, (301) 345-6700

Hotel shuttle service is available to and from the USDA Center. Callers 
must identify themselves as ``USDA Public Meeting'' attendees when 
making reservations. Make arrangements with the Holiday Inn front desk.

Greenbelt Courtyard-Marriott, 6301 Golden Triangle Drive, Greenbelt, MD 
20770, (800) 321-2211, (301) 441-3311
No shuttle service is available to the USDA Center. Check with the 
Courtyard front desk for local travel arrangements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, 371.2(d), and 
371.2(g).


[[Page 18180]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of April, 1998.
Charles P. Schwalbe,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-9744 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P