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.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

34747

Vol. 61, No. 129

Wednesday, July 3, 1996

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

9 CFR Part 11

[Docket No. 96–037–1]

Horse Protection; Public Meetings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public

that the Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting a

series of public meetings to discuss

proposed enforcement changes to the

current Horse Protection Act. These

proposals have been developed and are

outlined in the APHIS ‘‘Strategic Plan’’

for Horse Protection. The development

of the strategic plan is in line with our

commitment to ensure appropriate care

for horses regulated under the Horse

Protection Act. We are reviewing the

current regulations and standards

promulgated under the Horse Protection

Act, and are seeking recommendations

and opinions from affected industries

and other concerned members of the

public to determine which revisions are

necessary and appropriate in order to

further reduce the incidence of soring

and improve enforcement.

DATES: The first meeting will be held in

Murfreesboro, TN, on July 26, 1996. The

second meeting will be held in St.

Louis, MO, on August 2, 1996. The third

meeting will be held in Sacramento, CA,

on August 16, 1996. Each meeting will

be held from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be

held at the following locations:

1. Murfreesboro, TN: Middle Tennessee

State University, Loop Drive, James

Union Building, Tennessee Room,

Murfreesboro, TN, (615) 898–2797. If

traveling from Nashville, take I–24 to

exit 78, then head east on Highway 96

(Old Fort Parkway) to Memorial

Boulevard (Highway 231). Turn right

on Clark Boulevard, then left onto

Greenland Drive. Park in the

Greenland Drive parking lot and take

the shuttle bus to the James Union

Building.

2. St. Louis, MO: The Adams Mark

Hotel, Fourth and Chestnut, St. Louis,

MO, (314) 241–7400. If traveling from

Lambert International Airport, take I–

70 east to the Gateway Arch exit. The

Adams Mark Hotel is located at the

corner of Fourth and Chestnut.

3. Sacramento, CA: Red Lion Hotel, Red

Lion Ballroom, Sierra and Cascade

Sections, 2001 Point West Way,

Sacramento, CA, (916) 929–8855. The

Red Lion Hotel is at the corner of

Point West Way and Arden Way.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

John V. Zisk, Director, Horse Protection,

Animal Care Staff, REAC, APHIS,

USDA, 4700 River Road Unit 84,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1234, (301) 734–

7833. Copies of the ‘‘Strategic Plan’’ are

available through this office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

practice known as ‘‘soring’’ is the

causing of suffering in show horses to

affect their performance in the show

ring. Under the Horse Protection Act

(HPA) (11 U.S.C. et seq.), the Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service

(APHIS) is responsible for eliminating

the practice of soring, by prohibiting the

showing or selling of sored horses.

APHIS believes the regulations and

standards established in accordance

with the HPA may need to be updated,

and APHIS officials have proposed

program changes through a ‘‘Strategic

Plan.’’ In this plan, we have reviewed

which areas of enforcement may require

a change in regulations and standards

based on our experience and knowledge

of the program. In developing these

proposed changes and conducting this

review, APHIS is seeking

recommendations and opinions

regarding the following: The

enforcement of the HPA by USDAcertified horse industry organizations;

the certification status of horse industry

organizations; uniform systems of rules,

regulations, and penalties; training and

research. As a forum for such

recommendations and opinions, APHIS

will hold three meetings to gather input

from the public, including equine

protection organizations and members

of affected industries, such as the

walking horse industry and related

equine organizations. The meetings will

include four workshops facilitated by

trained APHIS facilitators, as follows:

(1) Self-regulatory enforcement of the

HPA by USDA-certified horse industry

organizations;

(2) USDA certifications of horse

industry organizations;

(3) Uniform rules, regulations, and

penalty systems; and

(4) Training and research under the

HPA.

In these workshops, group

participation will be used to develop

recommendations within specific topic

areas. After the workshops have

concluded, each workshop group will

report its recommendations to the entire

meeting.

APHIS will consider the

recommendations received in

developing any revisions to the current

HPA regulations and standards. The

Agency will initiate rulemaking for any

changes deemed appropriate.

Each of the workshops will be

conducted twice at each meeting, once

in the morning and once in the

afternoon. Participants who intend to

attend a full 1-day meeting are asked to

register for only one workshop for the

morning and a different workshop for

the afternoon. Attendance may be

limited for some workshops because of

space availability.

Registration will be held the day of

each meeting between 7:30 a.m. and

8:30 a.m. at the entrance of the general

assembly meeting rooms. The general

sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. Any

person who is unable to attend the

meetings, but who wishes to comment

on any of the topics covered by the four

workshops, may send written comments

to the person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT.

Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of

June 1996.

Terry L. Medley,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 96–16997 Filed 7–2–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

Food Safety and Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 391

[Docket No. 96–013P]

Fee Increase for Inspection Services

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection

Service, USDA.