Public Meeting; Animal Care

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 98-008-2]

Public Meeting; Animal Care

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This is the second notice to animal researchers, exhibitors,

dealers, transporters, animal protection groups, and other interested

persons that we are holding a public meeting to discuss current Animal

Welfare Act issues and initiatives. This notice also announces the

agenda for the public meeting.

PLACE, DATES, AND TIMES OF MEETING: The public meeting will be held at

the USDA Conference Center, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737, on

Tuesday, May 12, 1998. Registration will take place from 7 a.m. to 9

a.m. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the meeting

agenda, contact Dr. Dick Watkins, Initiatives Coordinator, Animal Care,

APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737, (301) 734-7687.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service (APHIS) previously announced that it was scheduling a public

meeting to discuss the animal welfare program and initiatives in

Riverdale, MD, on Tuesday, May 12, 1998 (See 63 FR 6704, February 10,

1998, Docket No. 98-008-1). In its advance notice for the meeting,

APHIS requested that interested persons submit topics to be included in

the meeting's agenda. Based on the submissions received and other

considerations, the agenda for the public meeting includes, but is not

limited to, the following:

9 a.m.--12:00 p.m.--General Session.

1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.--Break-out sessions.

The General Session will include updates by Animal Care officials on

current Animal Welfare Act issues and program initiatives, as well as

presentations by industry and animal interest organizations. We are

currently scheduling the following break-out sessions, which will run

concurrently:

Dealers/Auctions

Exhibitors

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Issues

Research

Transportation

Please note that this meeting is being held to exchange information

between Animal Care, the public, and stakeholders. It is not an

opportunity to submit formal comments on proposed rules or other

regulatory initiatives.

Advance Registration

Advance registration is requested by May 6, 1998. Attendance may be

limited based on public response. If interested, FAX your registration

request to (301) 734-4328 or (301) 734-4978, or send e-mail to Animal

Care at [email protected]. Include your name, complete mailing

address, and telephone and fax numbers. Please indicate your first and

second preference for break-out sessions. For additional registration

information, contact Sue Gallagher, Program Specialist, Animal Care, on

(301) 734-8877.

Travel Information

If traveling to the metro area by air, Baltimore-Washington

International (BWI) and Ronald Reagan National Airports are each

located within 1 hour's drive from the USDA Center. Airport shuttle

services are available via independent contracted service fleets. Check

with your hotel desk for additional shuttle or taxi information, or

phone Super Shuttle (BWI and National Airports) on (800) 258-3826 or

(410) 859-0803, or Airport Connection (BWI Airport) on (800) 284-6066

or (301) 352-2400.

The USDA center is located less than 1 mile from the College Park

metro rail station (Green Line--Greenbelt/Fort Totten). Bus service is

provided between the College Park station and the USDA Center by both

Metrobus (F6 and R12 bus lines) and select University of Maryland

Shuttle buses. The University of Maryland Shuttle offers complimentary

transportation.

If traveling by car, please note that a fee of $2.00 is required to

enter the parking lot at the USDA center.

Security Procedures

Upon entering the building, visitors should inform security

personnel that they are attending the Animal Care public meeting.

Identification is required. Security personnel will direct visitors to

the registration tables located outside the conference center on the

first floor. Registration is necessary for all participants, even if

advance registration was completed. Badges must be worn throughout the

day.

Lodging Information

We encourage out-of-town participants to make reservations as soon

as possible due to potential peak volumes at local hotels at the time

of the meeting. Rooms at all hotels are on a space available basis. The

following hotels are located in the Riverdale area:

Greenbelt Holiday Inn, 7200 Hanover Drive, Greenbelt, MD 20770, (800)

280-4188, (301) 982-7000

A limited number of rooms have been reserved at a rate of $75.00 plus

tax at the Greenbelt Holiday Inn. Callers must identify themselves as

``Animal Care Public Meeting'' attendees when making reservations.

Hotel shuttle service is available to and from the USDA Center. Make

arrangements with Holiday Inn front desk.

College Park Holiday Inn, 10000 Baltimore Blvd, College Park, MD 20740,

(800) 465-4329, (301) 345-6700

Hotel shuttle service is available to and from the USDA Center. Callers

must identify themselves as ``USDA Public Meeting'' attendees when

making reservations. Make arrangements with the Holiday Inn front desk.

Greenbelt Courtyard-Marriott, 6301 Golden Triangle Drive, Greenbelt, MD

20770, (800) 321-2211, (301) 441-3311

No shuttle service is available to the USDA Center. Check with the

Courtyard front desk for local travel arrangements.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, 371.2(d), and

371.2(g).

[[Page 18180]]

Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of April, 1998.

Charles P. Schwalbe,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-9744 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]

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