[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02756]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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. 79, No. 27 / Monday, February 10, 2014 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 7592]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 3

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0106]


Petition To Promulgate Standards for Bears Under the Animal 
Welfare Act Regulations

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of petition; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period for a petition requesting 
that we amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add specific 
standards for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation 
of all species of bears held in captivity except polar bears, for which 
there are already standards. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: The comment period for the notice published November 26, 2013 
(78 FR 70515) is reopened. We will consider all comments that we 
receive on or before March 12, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0106-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0106, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-
0106 or in our reading room, located in Room 1141 of the USDA South 
Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. 
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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barbara Kohn, DVM, Senior Staff 
Officer, USDA, APHIS, Animal Care, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1234; (301) 851-3751.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 26, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service published in the Federal Register (78 FR 70515-70516, Docket 
No. APHIS-2012-0106) a notice \1\ requesting comments on a petition 
from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals requesting that we 
amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add specific standards for 
the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of all species 
of bears held in captivity except polar bears, for which there are 
already standards.
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    \1\ To view the notice, supporting documents, and the comments 
we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0106.
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    Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before 
January 27, 2014. We are reopening the comment period on Docket No. 
APHIS-2012-0106 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow 
interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We 
will also consider all comments received between January 28, 2014 (the 
day after the close of the original comment period) and the date of 
this notice.
    We encourage the submission of scientific data, studies, or 
research to support your comments and position, including data or 
research that supports any industry or professional standards that 
pertain to the care of bears. We also invite data on the costs and 
benefits associated with any recommendations. We will consider all 
comments and recommendations we receive.

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

    Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of February 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-02756 Filed 2-7-14; 8:45 am]
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