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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0579-AC75</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0579</CODE>
            <NAME>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>APHIS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0500</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Agriculture</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>USDA</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Animal Welfare; Rats and Mice</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This document gives notice that we intend to strengthen our enforcement of the regulations established under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) as they pertain to rats and mice. While we have regulated the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of the majority of rats and mice covered by the AWA, we have not consistently enforced the AWA regulations and standards for domestic rats of the genus Rattus and mice of the genus Mus not bred for use in research, even though such rats and mice are covered by the AWA as a result of different allocations of APHIS limited resources. This action would ensure that all covered rats and mice are afforded the protection of the AWA. This document follows an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that solicited comments from the public on whether we should establish specific standards for rats and mice covered by the AWA or if the existing, general standards in the regulations are sufficient to ensure their humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation. In this document, we are notifying the public that we have determined that it is not necessary to establish specific standards for covered rats and mice. The existing AWA standards provide such animals with adequate protection to ensure their welfare.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>9 CFR 1 to 3</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>7 USC 2131 to 2159</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Policy Statement</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>08/00/2009</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <ADDITIONAL_INFO>Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.</ADDITIONAL_INFO>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Tracy</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Bowman</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>L.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Acting Assistant Deputy Administrator, Animal Care</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0579</CODE>
                    <NAME>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>APHIS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>301 734-6328</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>4700 River Road, Unit 84,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Riverdale</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20737-1234</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
