[Federal Register: September 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 184)]
[Notices]
[Page 56993-56994]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23se04-26]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket 04-095-1]
Big Cat Symposia; Animal Care
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of informational meetings.
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[[Page 56994]]
SUMMARY: This is a notice to animal exhibitors, dealers, transporters,
researchers, animal protection groups, industry groups, and other
interested persons that we are holding a series of educational symposia
to present current information on the care and maintenance of exotic
big cats. This notice provides the agenda for the symposia and
information on the location and dates of the final two symposia.
DATES: The next symposium will be held in Bridgeton, MO, on Wednesday,
October 27, 2004. The following symposium will be held in Riverdale,
MD, on Wednesday, December 8, 2004. Each symposium will be held from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration information is provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
ADDRESSES: The symposia will be held at the following locations:
1. Bridgeton, MO: Crowne Plaza St. Louis Airport Hotel, 11228 Lone
Eagle Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044, (314) 291-6700.
2. Riverdale, MD: USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road,
Riverdale, MD 20737, (301) 734-7833.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the agenda
of the symposia, contact Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian,
Animal Care, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301)
734-7833.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), Animal Care, has been hosting a series of educational
symposia on the care and maintenance of exotic big cats. The symposia
are designed to provide a forum for information dissemination on
various topics that are key to the successful management and handling
of exotic big cats. These symposia have been held in locations across
the country to facilitate attendance by most of our regulated parties
that maintain these animals.
The first of these meetings was held on March 26, 2003, in Fort
Worth, TX. On April 30, 2003, the second meeting was held in Las Vegas,
NV. The third meeting was held November 19, 2003, in Columbus, OH, and
the fourth on January 7, 2004, in Sarasota, FL. The final two symposia
of this series will be held at the Crowne Plaza St. Louis Airport
Hotel, 11228 Lone Eagle Drive, Bridgeton, MO, on October 27, 2004, and
at the USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD, on
December 8, 2004.
The symposia have been developed to provide current information and
ideas on a variety of topics. Each symposium will, with the exception
of possible minor modifications, follow the same agenda. The symposia
will start with general session, followed by breakout sessions allowing
more interaction between speakers and attendees. The agenda for these
symposia is:
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.--Registration.
8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.--General Session:
Welcome.
Nutrition.
Veterinary Care and Tranquilization.
Transportation.
New Training Methods.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.--Lunch (on own).
1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.--Concurrent Breakout Session 1:
Explaining APHIS Regulations.
Nutrition.
Training.
2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.--Concurrent Breakout Session 2:
Transportation/Good and Not so Good.
Veterinary Care Issues.
Heat Budgets and Shade (avoiding overheating and overcooling).
4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.--Questions and Answers and Closing.
Notice of these symposia is being sent to current Animal Welfare
Act licensees with exotic big cats and may be viewed on the Animal Care
Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac. Copies of the brochure
prepared for the symposia can be requested by calling our headquarters
at (301) 734-7833 or by e-mailing the request to ACE@aphis.usda.gov.
Please note that these symposia are being held to provide and
disseminate information on the care and maintenance of big exotic cats
under the Animal Welfare Act. There will be no opportunity at these
symposia to submit formal comments on proposed rules or other
regulatory initiatives.
Registration
As seating for each symposium is limited, we request that you
preregister by calling (301) 734-7833 or by e-mailing Animal Care at
ACE@aphis.usda.gov. Please identify the symposium you will be attending
and provide your name, number of attendees, phone number, e-mail
address, or other contact address. This information is needed so that
we may inform registrants in a timely manner in the event of any
changes to the meeting schedule. The deadline for preregistration is
October 1, 2004, for the Bridgeton symposium, and December 1, 2004, for
the Riverdale symposium. On-site registration will take place from 7:30
a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on the date of each symposium.
Travel and Lodging Information
All attendees are responsible for making their own travel and
lodging arrangements. No rooms have been reserved for attendees at
symposium hotels or any other hotels.
Parking and Security Procedures for Riverdale Symposium
Please note that a fee of $2.25 is required to enter the parking
lot at the USDA Center at Riverside. The machine accepts $1 bills or
quarters.
Picture identification is required to be admitted into the
building. Upon entering the building, visitors should inform security
personnel that they are attending the Big Cat symposium.
Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of September 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E4-2343 Filed 9-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P