[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14090-14091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04668]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 1, 2, and 3

[Docket No. APHIS-2022-0022]
RIN 0579-AE69


Wild and Exotic Animal Handling, Training of Personnel Involved 
With Public Handling of Wild and Exotic Animals, and Environmental 
Enrichment for Species

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 that solicits public comment on our plan to 
strengthen regulations regarding the handling of wild and exotic 
animals for exhibition, as well as the training of personnel involved 
in the handling of wild and exotic animals, and to establish standards 
addressing environmental enrichment for all regulated animals. This 
action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and 
submit comments.

DATES: The comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
published on January 9, 2023 (88 FR 1151-1154) is extended. We will 
consider all comments that we receive on or before April 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: 
FederaleRulemakingPortal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2022-
0022 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the 
Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2022-0022, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.10, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at Regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located 
in room 1620 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lance H. Bassage, VMD, Director, 
National Policy Staff, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; [email protected]; (970) 494-7478.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    On January 9, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR 
1151-1154, Docket No. APHIS-2022-0022) an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking \1\ to solicit public comment on our plan to strengthen 
regulations regarding the handling of wild and exotic animals for 
exhibition, as well as the training of personnel involved in the 
handling of wild and exotic animals, and to establish standards 
addressing environmental enrichment for all regulated animals.
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    \1\ To view the advance notice of proposed rulemaking and public 
comments, go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2022-0022 in the 
Search field.
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    Comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking were required 
to be received on or before March 10, 2023. We are extending the 
comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2022-0022 until April 10, 2023. 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.


[[Page 14091]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of March 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04668 Filed 3-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P