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Bob Kane
----- Original Message -----
From: vhdoa.earthlink.net
To: S_Mid-Atlantic
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 11:37 PM
Subject: PA Kennel Rulemaking Savaged By State Independent Regulatory
Review Commission
Dear Pennsylvania Friends,
Your Department of Agriculture's December 16, 2006 proposed kennel
regulations
http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol36/36-
50/2452.html and the public comments submitted on them have been
reviewed by the State's Independent Regulatory Review Commission
(IRRC). That review totally savages the proposal, giving particular
weight to Harrisburg legislator comments, as expected. The IRRC 3.2
MB report may be downloaded at
http://www.irrc.state.pa.us/download/25 ... MMENTS.pdf
Basically, the Department has been told to go back to ground zero and
start over from scratch, e.g.
"Next steps for this rulemaking
Given the considerable public involvement and legislative interest in
this proposed regulation and the strong support for major revisions
in the rulemaking, the Department should work to guarantee full
public review of proposed revisions. We strongly encourage the
Department to organize stakeholder meetings with representatives from
all types of kennels to develop a full understanding of their
operations, dogs and clients. In this way, it can develop standards
that will protect the health and safety of dogs while simultaneously
recognizing the unique functions at different kennels. The Department
should work with affected parties, experts, concerned citizens, and
the General Assembly to develop improved ideas for achieving its
policy objectives without imposing unnecessary or unreasonable
financial burdens.
Section 902 of the Dog Law (Law) (3 P.S. ยง 459-902) requires that the
Department hold a public hearing before it promulgates final
regulations. The Department could use this hearing as one opportunity
for input. We urge the Department to make proposed revisions
available for the public and legislators to review before the
hearing. Interested parties could submit written comments and participate in the hearing. The Department should also publish an Advanced Notice of Final Rulemaking and provide an opportunity for public comment to resolve any remaining issues before submitting a final-form regulation."
--
There's no published timetable for this new effort, but this is a
major setback for the rulemaking's animal rights supporters and the
Department of Agriculture. Thank you all for responding to SAOVA's
call for action and in particular for sharing your concerns with the
members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees.
Freely share this good news.