Animal Welfare; Marine Mammals

SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our proposed rule

regarding the establishment of standards for ``swim-with-the-dolphin''

interactive programs. This extension will provide interested persons

with additional time to prepare comments on the proposed rule.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments on Docket No. 93-

076-2 that are received on or before March 9, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to

Chief, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, USDA, P.O.

Drawer 810, Riverdale, MD 20738. Please state that your comments refer

to Docket No. 93-076-2. Comments received may be inspected at USDA,

room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Ave. SW.,

Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,

except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested to

call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment

reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff

Veterinarian, Animal Care Staff, Regulatory Enforcement and Animal

Care, APHIS, USDA, P.O. Drawer 810, Riverdale, MD 20738. The telephone

number for the agency contact will change when agency offices in

Hyattsville, MD, move to Riverdale, MD, during February 1995.

Telephone: (301) 436-7833 (Hyattsville); (301) 734-8699 (Riverdale).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 23, 1995, we published in the

Federal Register (60 FR 4383-4389, Docket No. 93-076-2) a proposal to

amend the Animal Welfare regulations to establish standards for ``swim-

with-the-dolphin'' interactive programs.

Comments regarding the proposed rule were required to be received

on or before February 22, 1995. During the comment period, we received

a request that we extend the comment period beyond February 22. The

requestor, a marine mammal industry association, stated that additional

time is necessary to allow its members to meet and to formulate

comments.

In response to this request, we are extending the comment period

for Docket No. 93-076-2 through March 9, 1995. This will allow time for

the requestor and other interested persons to develop comments on the

proposed rule.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(g).

Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of February 1995.

Terry L. Medley,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 95-4881 Filed 2-27-95; 8:45 am]

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