[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 1998)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 45417] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-22908] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 9 CFR Parts 1 and 2 [Docket No. 97-018-3] RIN 0579-AA95 Licensing Requirements for Dogs and Cats AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of reopening and extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our advance notice of proposed rulemaking that announced that we are considering several changes to the Animal Welfare regulations to ensure the humane handling, care, and treatment of dogs and cats, while concentrating our regulatory efforts on those facilities that present the greatest risk of noncompliance with the regulations. This extension will provide interested persons with additional time in which to prepare comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking. DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments on Docket No. 97- 018-2 that are received on or before September 23, 1998. ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to Docket No. 97-018-2, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comments refer to Docket No. 97-018-2. Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via the Internet on an electronic form located at http://comments.aphis.usda.gov. Comments submitted on the electronic form need only be submitted once. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Bettye Walters, Veterinary Medical Officer, AC, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234, (301) 734-7833. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 24, 1998, we published in the Federal Register (63 FR 34333-34335, Docket No. 97-018-2) an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that announced that we are considering several changes to the Animal Welfare regulations at 9 CFR parts 1 and 2 to ensure the humane handling, care, and treatment of dogs and cats, while concentrating our regulatory efforts on those facilities that present the greatest risk of noncompliance with the regulations. Comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking were required to be received on or before August 24, 1998. In response to requests from several organizations, we are reopening and extending the public comment period on Docket No. 97-018- 2 until September 23, 1998. This action will allow interested groups and individuals additional time to prepare and submit comments. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(g). Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of August 1998. Craig A. Reed, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 98-22908 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P