[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43538-43539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16541]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 2 and 3

[Docket No. 98-106-5]
RIN 0579-AB69


Animal Welfare; Regulations and Standards for Birds, Rats, and 
Mice

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking regarding several changes we are considering to the 
Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations to help promote the humane 
handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds, rats, and mice 
not specifically excluded from coverage under the AWA. This action will 
allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit 
comments.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Webform: The preferred method is to use the webform 
located at http://comments.aphis.usda.gov. This webform is designed to 
allow commenters to associate each of their comments with the issues 
identified in the advance notice, and to allow APHIS to more easily 
analyze the comments received regarding each issue.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 98-106-4, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. 98-106-4.
     E-mail: Address your comment to 
[email protected]. Your comment must be contained in the body 
of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name 
and address in your message and ``Docket No. 98-106-4'' on the subject 
line.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for locating this 
docket and submitting comments.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on Docket 
No. 98-106-4 in our reading room. The reading room 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) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the 
Federal Register and related information, including the names of groups 
and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jerry DePoyster, Senior Veterinary 
Medical Officer, Animal Care, APHIS,

[[Page 43539]]

4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 4, 2004, we published in the Federal 
Register (69 FR 31537-31541, Docket No. 98-106-4) an advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking regarding several changes we are considering to the 
Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations in 9 CFR parts 2 and 3 to help 
promote the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of 
birds, rats, and mice not specifically excluded from coverage under the 
AWA.
    Comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking were required 
to be received on or before August 3, 2004. We are extending the 
comment period on Docket No. 98-106-4 for an additional 90 days. This 
action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and 
submit comments.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.7.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of July, 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16541 Filed 7-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P