[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18742]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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. 70, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 21, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 55308]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 3

[Docket No. 04-088-2]
RIN 0579-ZA01


Animal Welfare; Standards for Ferrets: Extension of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Petition and request for comments; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our notice announcing 
the receipt of a petition requesting that specific standards be 
promulgated for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of domestic ferrets. This action will allow interested 
persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on Docket No. 04-
088-1 on or before November 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or 
view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the 
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public 
docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered 
EDOCKET, click on the ``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate Docket 
04-088-1.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-088-1, 
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. 04-088-1.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on Docket 
04-088-1 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 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, 4700 River Road Unit 84, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2005, we published in the 
Federal Register (70 FR 45322-45323, Docket No. 04-088-1) a notice in 
which we announced the receipt of, and requested comments on, a 
petition from the International Ferret Congress. The petition requested 
that APHIS develop and promulgate specific standards for the care and 
handling of domestic ferrets (Mustela furo). Currently, the standards 
that apply to domestic ferrets are set forth in 9 CFR part 3, Subpart 
F, under the generic standards for warmblooded animals other than dogs, 
cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, nonhuman primates, and marine 
mammals.
    Comments on the petition were required to be received on or before 
October 4, 2005. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. 04-
088-1 until November 18, 2005, an additional 45 days from the original 
close of the comment period. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of September, 2005.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 05-18742 Filed 9-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P