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NR00-07
April 6, 2000

Public Hearings Scheduled on Proposed Amendments to Animal Quarantine Rules

Honolulu - The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) will be holding a series of public hearings across the state on proposed amendments to Hawaii's animal quarantine rules (Chapter 4-29, entitled Dogs, Cats and other Carnivores). (Editor's note: Locations for the Kona and Oahu hearings have been changed since the initial public notice was issued to assure that meeting sites are ADA-compliant.)

The proposed amendments include:

• Allowing pets on cruise ships while maintaining the integrity of the rabies quarantine program;
• Allowing pet owners to purchase electronic microchips, as part of the preshipment requirements, from sources other than the state;
• Modifying conditions for the removal of pets from quarantine and delegating authority to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to grant special performance permits for performing animals;
• Deleting the requirement of a 30-day post quarantine observation period;
• Modifying quarantine requirements for guide or service dogs;
• Modifying conditions and fees for newborn dogs and cats;
• Establishing maximum time periods for review of permit applications; and
• Modifying conditions of the guide dog program to include service dogs.

The HDOA encourages the public to submit written testimony or to attend one of the following public hearings:

Island Date Time Location

Kauai April 20, 2000 1:00 p.m. HDOA Conference Room
4398A Pua Loke St., Lihue, Kauai
(for information, call 274-3069)

Hilo, Hawaii April 24, 2000 7:00 p.m. State Office Building,
Conference Room (A & B)
75 Aupuni St., Hilo, Hawaii
(for information, call 974-6500)

Kona, Hawaii April 25, 2000 7:00 p.m. Kona Adult Day Center
81-989 Halekii Street, Kealakekua*, Hawaii
(for information, call 974-6500)

Maui April 26, 2000 7:00 p.m. HDOA Conference Room
635 Mua St., Kahului, Maui
(for information, call 873-3555)

Oahu April 28, 2000 7:00 p.m. HDOA, Plant Quarantine Branch
Conference Room*
701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu
(for information, call 483-7100)

Copies of the proposed amendments may be reviewed in person during normal business hours at HDOA offices on Kauai, Big Island, Maui and Oahu. To obtain a copy via mail, please call any HDOA office listed above for information on photocopying and mailing charges. The proposed rules are also available on the department's website at:

www.hawaiiag/hdoa/publicnotices.htm.

The HDOA will continue to accept written testimony until May 5, 2000. Testimony may be mailed to:

Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 22159
Honolulu, Hawaii 96823-2159

Any persons requiring special accommodations, such as sign language, interpretation, large print, taped materials, accessible parking, is asked to provide a request 72 hours prior to the scheduled hearing. The request may be made in writing to the Honolulu address listed above or by calling (808) 483-7103 in Honolulu.

For more information regarding the public hearings, please call the HDOA's Animal Industry Division at (808) 483-7103.

* denotes locations that have been changed since initial public hearing notice was issued.

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