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Timestamp: 2020-04-03 07:55:54
Document Index: 229288758

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 147', '§ 147', '§ 147', '§ 147', '§ 147', '§ 147']

38 Pa.B. 4523
PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 08-1492
[38 Pa.B. 4523]
To effectively manage the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth, the Game Commission (Commission), at its June 24, 2008, meeting, proposed the following rulemaking:
Amend §§ 147.301--147.307 and 147.309 (relating to wildlife rehabilitation) to update and expand wildlife rehabilitation standards.
The proposed rulemaking was made public at the June 24, 2008, meeting of the Commission. Comments can be sent to the Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797, until October 17, 2008.
The Commission has been working in consultation with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (Council) to update and amend the wildlife rehabilitation regulations in an effort to redress concerns the Commission and Council share respecting the inadequacy of current permitting standards. Some notable recommendations generated include the creation of new rehabilitation facility caging and sanitation requirements for all wildlife, new requirements for the rehabilitation of rabies vector species and, finally, new application, qualification and testing standards for permit applicants. Therefore, the Commission is proposing to amend §§ 147.301--147.307 and 147.309 to update and expand wildlife rehabilitation standards.
Section 2901(b) of the code (relating to authority to issue permits) provides ''the commission may, as deemed necessary to properly manage the game or wildlife resources, promulgate regulations for the issuance of any permit and promulgate regulations to control the activities which may be performed under authority of any permit issued.'' Section 2102(a) of the code (relating to regulations) provides that ''The commission shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary and appropriate concerning game or wildlife and hunting or furtaking in this Commonwealth, including regulations relating to the protection, preservation and management of game or wildlife and game or wildlife habitat, permitting or prohibiting hunting or furtaking, the ways, manner, methods and means of hunting or furtaking and the health and safety of persons who hunt or take wildlife or may be in the vicinity of persons who hunt or take game or wildlife in this Commonwealth.'' The amendments to §§ 147.301--147.307 and 147.309 were proposed under this authority.
The proposed rulemaking will amend §§ 147.301--147.307 and 147.309 to update and expand wildlife rehabilitation standards.
Persons wishing to rehabilitate game or wildlife within this Commonwealth will be affected by the proposed rulemaking.
Fiscal Note: 48-274. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Subchapter P. WILDLIFE REHABILITATION
(f) Nonreleasable wildlife, which visibly appears to be in good condition, may be held by authority of an educational use of rehabilitation wildlife permit or transferred to a zoological park or garden which is open to the public or to the holder of a wildlife menagerie permit. Raptors may additionally be transferred to holders of falconry or raptor propagation permits. A wildlife transfer permit, available from the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection, shall be obtained for each specimen prior to any transaction.
(g) Nonreleasable wildlife may be held, with the approval of the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection, for cross-fostering purposes.
(i) Wildlife may be transferred to or from properly permitted facilities outside of this Commonwealth only upon issuance of a wildlife importation or exportation permit by the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(b) Each application [shall] must include the following:
(8) [The] A letter from a sponsoring wildlife rehabilitator. The letter must include the name, address and permit number of the sponsoring wildlife rehabilitator. (Capture and transportation and novice wildlife rehabilitation permits only).
(9) [The] A letter from a sponsoring veterinarian. The letter must include the name and address of the veterinarian who will be assisting and advising the applicant (required for wildlife rehabilitation permit only).
(3) Exceptions will be recommended by the Council and approved by the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(i) [The applicant] New applicants shall successfully pass a [written examination administered by the Bureau of Law Enforcement] supervised examination with a minimum score of 80%.
(iii) Educational use of rehabilitation wildlife permits will not be issued to novice wildlife rehabilitators unless specifically recommended by the Council and approved by the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(v) A novice wildlife rehabilitator may appoint no more than five responsible individuals to assist in providing food and housing for wildlife being rehabilitated. It is the permittee's responsibility to notify the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection in writing of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the appointees and necessary changes as they occur.
(i) The applicant shall have actively rehabilitated wildlife for a minimum of 2 years as a novice wildlife rehabilitator or equivalent experience approved by the Council and the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(iii)] The applicant shall appear for and successfully pass an oral examination/interview [which shall be] conducted by members of the Council and the Bureau of Wildlife Protection. The applicant shall also submit photographs or videotape with commentary of his facility for review.
(ii) A permittee may accept endangered [or] , threatened [wildlife] or RVS for rehabilitation following proper additional certification under § 147.306 (relating to endangered [or] , threatened [species] RVS certification).
(iv) A general class wildlife rehabilitator may appoint no more than ten responsible individuals to assist in providing food and housing for wildlife being rehabilitated, with the exception of endangered or threatened species. It shall be the permittee's responsibility to notify the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection in writing of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the appointees and necessary changes as they occur.
(v) Additional capture and transportation permittees and assistants may be listed, only with the advance approval of the Council and the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection. A request [shall] must be in writing with justification for an increase.
(2) The applicant shall successfully pass a Council-approved wildlife capture and transport written examination [administered by the Bureau of Law Enforcement] with a minimum score of 80%.
(3) The applicant [shall successfully pass an oral examination/interview which will be conducted by members of the Council] , upon completion of testing, shall obtain a certificate from the Council approved written examination. This certificate, along with a permit application shall be mailed to the district wildlife conservation officer to receive a permit.
§ 147.306. Endangered, [or] threatened [species] or RVS certification.
(a) A written request for the endangered [or] , threatened [species] or RVS certification examination shall be made to the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(c) Attend a certification workshop or seminar as established by council and the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(a) The area serviced by wildlife rehabilitators will be restricted to the county or portion of a county in which facilities are established unless otherwise approved by the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(b) Capture and transportation permittees will be restricted to the area serviced by their sponsoring permittee unless otherwise approved by the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(b) Permit applications [shall] must be made in writing to the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection and [shall] include the following:
(c) Permit applications will be approved by the Council and the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection.
(2) Not more than [four] ten specimens of wildlife which are determined to be nonreleasable may be used by the permittee for educational exhibits or programs held away from the established rehabilitation facility, unless further restricted by State or Federal permits.
(e) Records shall be maintained by the permittee and [shall] include the date, location and listing of wildlife used for each exhibit or program conducted. These records shall be retained for 2 years and be available for inspection by the wildlife conservation officer or other officers of the Commission at any reasonable hour. A copy of these records shall be made available to the Bureau of [Law Enforcement] Wildlife Protection upon request.
(f) [Failure to comply with one or more conditions of the permit will be reason for recall of the permit] Educational use of rehabilitation wildlife permit holders may apply for salvage permits.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 08-1492. Filed for public inspection August 15, 2008, 9:00 a.m.]