REINDEER SLAUGHTERING AND PROCESSING: NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES
IN THE REGULATIONS OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation proposes to repeal the Reindeer Slaughtering and Processing regulations, and includes conforming edits, currently established in 18 AAC 32 Article 4.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation proposes to repeal 18 AAC 32 Article 4 Reindeer Slaughtering and Processing regulations and includes conforming edits.  The intended effect of this repeal is to remove regulations that have never been used by animal owners due to alternative state (18 AAC 31) and federal (9 C.F.R. § 300-592) regulation options.  The repeal includes the following:

• 18 AAC 32.600: Purpose and applicability;
• 18 AAC 32.601: Requirements adopted by reference;
• 18 AAC 32.605:Permit application requirements;
• 18 AAC 32.610: Fees;
• 18 AAC 32.615: Facility plan approval;
• 18 AAC 32.620: Facility requirements;
• 18 AAC 32.625: Water, wastewater, solid waste, and plumbing;
• 18 AAC 32.630: Toilet and handsink requirements;
• 18 AAC 32.635: Equipment and utensil design, location, and storage;
• 18 AAC 32.640: Cleaning and sanitizing;
• 18 AAC 32.645: Food condition and source;
• 18 AAC 32.650: Personnel;
• 18 AAC 32.655: Sanitation plan;
• 18 AAC 32.660: Hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) plan;
• 18 AAC 32.665: Thermal processing;
• 18 AAC 32.670: Humane slaughter;
• 18 AAC 32.675: Ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection;
• 18 AAC 32.680: Evisceration and handling of carcasses;
• 18 AAC 32.685: Official mark of inspection and labeling;
• 18 AAC 32.690: Inspections;
• 18 AAC 32.693: Permit suspension and facility closure;
• 18 AAC 32.695: Examination, detention, and destruction of food;
• 18 AAC 32.699: Definitions for 18 AAC 32.600 – 18 AAC 32.699.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Shannon Miller, Department of Environmental Conservation, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Conservation will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 269-7654, by electronic mail at shannon.miller@alaska.gov, and online by visiting https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/regulations/reindeer-slaughtering-processing/ and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 11:59pm on December 23, 2020.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Shannon Miller, Department of Environmental Conservation, 555 Cordova Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 or by email to shannon.miller@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Environmental Conservation will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/regulations/reindeer-slaughtering-processing/faq/. The Department of Environmental Conservation may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Garrett Odom by electronic mail at garrett.odom@alaska.gov or by phone at (907) 465-3945 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 not later than December 11, 2020 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System, at https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/regulations/reindeer-slaughtering-processing/, or by contacting Shannon Miller by email at shannon.miller@alaska.gov or by phone at (907) 269-6066.

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Environmental Conservation will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory authority: AS 03.05.011; AS 17.20.005; AS 17.20.010; AS 17.20.020; AS 17.20.072; AS 17.20.180; AS 44.46.020

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 03.05.011; AS 17.20.005; AS 17.20.010; AS 17.20.020; AS 17.20.072; AS 17.20.180; AS 44.46.020

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Department of Environmental Conservation keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Department of Environmental Conservation notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Health Program Coordinator Shannon Miller at shannon.miller@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Date:   November 20, 2020  

                                                                                                              /s/                                          

                                                                                    Jason W. Brune, Commissioner