The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is considering amendments to the animal welfare regulations concerning marine mammal standards. As part of the process, it is seeking comments regarding space requirements, indoor and outdoor facilities, water quality and variances, and interactive activities for various species. Individuals must submit comments before July 29 for them to be considered.
APHIS is particularly interested in remarks pertaining to maximum temperature ranges for air and water, noise thresholds, components that should be considered when determining space requirements, minimum depths, representative average adult lengths, minimum widths or longest straight-line swimming distances, and regulating interactive activities.
The announcement can be found in the May 30, 2002 Federal Register.
Send an original and three copies of comments to Docket No. 93-076-17, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD. 20737-1238. Comments can also be e-mailed to regulations@aphis.usda.gov but must be contained in the body of the message along with a name and address. Subject lines of e-mails should include Docket No. 93-076-17.
For further information, contact Barbara Kohn at (301) 734-7833 or Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1228. |