[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 15, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66241-66242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29723]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Advertisements for Animals and Sharp Instruments for Use in 
Animal Fighting Ventures are Nonmailable

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 601.9.3.1, 
601.11.20, and 601.12.5.7, to align our standards with section 26 of 
the Animal Welfare Act as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008.

DATES: Effective Date: February 1, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Collins at 202-268-5440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 18, 2008, Congress enacted the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Act) which amended 
certain provisions of the Animal Welfare Act pertaining to animal 
fighting ventures. The 2008 Act's amendments added prohibitions on 
using the mail service of the United States (1) to advertise an animal 
for use in an animal fighting venture, or (2) to advertise a knife, a 
gaff, or any other sharp instrument attached, or designed or intended 
to be attached, to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting 
venture. The 2008 Act also revised the definition of the term ``animal 
fighting venture'' to refer to ``any event, in or affecting interstate 
or foreign commerce'' involving a fight ``conducted or to be 
conducted'' between at least two animals. To implement the 2008 Act's 
amendments and to ensure that our standards comport with the current 
language in section 26 (7 U.S.C. 2156) of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), 
we are implementing the new standards.
    Although we are exempt from the notice and comment requirements of 
the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S. C. 553 (b), (c)], regarding 
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invited 
public comments on the following proposed revision of the Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. 
See 39 CFR part 111.

Comments Received

    The Postal Service received comments from six parties. Three 
commenters supported the rule as proposed by the Postal Service without 
modification. Other comments were submitted as follows:
    One commenter suggested for the US Postal Service to decline 
adopting the Humane Society's proposed change to section 601.12.5.7 of 
the DMM. We noted that the suggested change to proposed section 
601.12.5.7 is not explicitly supported by the text of subsections 
2156(c) and (d) in 7 U.S.C. 2156 (the AWA). In the absence of further 
guidance from the text of the statute, we decline to adopt the 
suggested change.
    One commenter urged the Postal Service not to adopt the proposed 
rule on the grounds that the proposed rule violates the First Amendment 
of the U.S. Constitution. The proposed rule only implements the 
statutory language set forth in 7 U.S.C. 2156, therefore we find that 
the comment is beyond the scope of this rulemaking.
    Finally, another commenter appears to object to the exception in 
proposed section 601.12.5.7 for fighting ventures involving live birds 
if such fight is permitted under the laws of the state in which the 
fight is to take place. The commenter suggests that no states permit 
animal fighting. We note that paragraph 2156(g)(3) in Title 7, U.S. 
Code, provides that the term ``State'' means any State of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and 
any territory or possession of the United States. We understand that at 
least one of these jurisdictions continues to permit fights involving 
live birds. Therefore, we decline to modify the exception to proposed 
section 601.12.5.7 of the DMM for fighting ventures involving live 
birds that are permitted under the laws of the state in which the fight 
is to take place. The other issues raised by the commenter are beyond 
the scope of this rulemaking.
    The Postal Service hereby adopts the following changes to the 
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal 
Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

0
Accordingly, 39 CFR Part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, 
and 5001.


[[Page 66242]]



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2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

601 Mailability

* * * * *

9.0 Perishable

* * * * *

9.3 Live Animals

    [Revise the heading and text of 9.3.1, as follows:]

9.3.1 Prohibition on Animals Intended for Use in an Animal Fighting 
Venture

    An animal is nonmailable if such animal is being mailed for the 
purpose of having it participate in an animal fighting venture (7 
U.S.C. 2156). This standard applies regardless of whether such venture 
is permitted under the laws of the state in which it is conducted. 
Violators can be subject to the criminal penalties in 18 U.S.C. 49. See 
601.11.20 for the prohibition on mailing sharp instruments intended for 
use in an animal fighting venture and 601.12.5.7 for restrictions on 
mailing written, printed, or graphic matter related to animal fighting 
ventures.
    For this standard:
    a. The term animal means any live bird, or any live mammal (e.g., 
dog), except human;
    b. The term animal fighting venture means any event, in or 
affecting interstate or foreign commerce, that involves a fight 
conducted or to be conducted between at least two animals for purposes 
of sport, wagering, or entertainment (excluding any activity whose 
primary purpose involves using one or more animals in hunting other 
animals); and
    c. The term state means any state of the United States, the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any U.S. 
territory or possession.
* * * * *

11.0 Other Restricted and Nonmailable Matter

* * * * *
    [Revise the heading and text of 11.20, as follows:]

11.20 Prohibition on Sharp Instruments Intended for Use in an Animal 
Fighting Venture

    The interstate or international mailing of a knife, a gaff, or any 
other sharp instrument attached, or designed or intended to be 
attached, to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting venture 
(as defined in section 601.9.3.1b) is prohibited (7 U.S.C. 2156). 
Violators can be subject to the criminal penalties in 18 U.S.C. 49. See 
601.9.3.1 for the prohibition on mailing animals intended for use in an 
animal fighting venture and 601.12.5.7 for the restrictions on mailing 
written, printed, or graphic matter related to animal fighting 
ventures.
* * * * *

12.0 Written, Printed, and Graphic Matter Generally

* * * * *

12.5 Other Nonmailable Matter

* * * * *
    [Revise the heading and text of 12.5.7, as follows:]

12.5.7 Restriction on Matter Related to Animal Fighting Ventures

    This standard does not pertain to written, printed, or graphic 
matter related to fighting ventures involving live birds if such fight 
is permitted under the laws of the state in which the fight is to take 
place (7 U.S.C. 2156). The terms animal, animal fighting venture, and 
state are defined in 601.9.3.1. Written, printed, or graphic matter is 
nonmailable if it:
    a. Advertises an animal for use in an animal fighting venture;
    b. Advertises a knife, a gaff, or any other sharp instrument 
attached, or designed or intended to be attached, to the leg of a bird 
for use in an animal fighting venture; or
    c. Promotes or in any other manner furthers an animal fighting 
venture.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111 to reflect 
these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E9-29723 Filed 12-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P