DAR File No. 40094

Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources

Rule R657-3

Collection, Importation, Transportation, and Possession of Animals

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 40094
Filed: 01/11/2016 11:56:38 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is being amended pursuant to Regional Advisory Council and Wildlife Board meetings conducted for taking public input and reviewing the Division of Wildlife Resources� (DWR) animal program.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments to this rule includes the following changes: 1) exempt live aquatic animal tanks in restaurants and stores from the Certificate of Registration process, and 2) add a definition of �Marine aquatic animal�.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 23-20-3
• Section 23-14-18
• Section 23-14-19
• Section 63-30-1
• Section 23-13-14

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The amendment makes necessary changes to allow for the use of live aquatic animal tanks in restaurants and stores. DWR determines that these amendments will not create any cost or savings impact to the state budget or DWR's budget since the changes will not increase workload and can be carried out with existing budget.

local governments:

None--This filing does not create any direct cost or savings impact to local governments because they are not directly affected by the rule. Nor are local governments indirectly impacted because the rule does not create a situation requiring services from local governments.

small businesses:

These amendments make the necessary changes to allow for the use of live aquatic animal tanks in restaurants and stores. Therefore, this rule does not impose any additional financial requirements on persons, nor generate a cost or saving impact to small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

These amendments make the necessary changes to allow for the use of live aquatic animal tanks in restaurants and stores. Therefore, this rule does not impose any additional financial requirements on persons, nor generate a cost or saving impact to other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The amendments allow for the use of live aquatic animal tanks in restaurants and stores without completing the certificate of registration process. DWR determines that there are no additional compliance costs associated with this amendment.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The amendments to this rule do not create an impact on businesses.

Michael R. Styler, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources
1594 W NORTH TEMPLE
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3154

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Staci Coons at the above address, by phone at 801-538-4718, by FAX at 801-538-4709, or by Internet E-mail at stacicoons@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

03/02/2016

This rule may become effective on:

03/09/2016

Authorized by:

Gregory Sheehan, Director

R657. Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources.

R657-3. Collection, Importation, Transportation, and Possession of Animals.

R657-3-1. Purpose and Authority.

(1) Under Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code of Utah and in accordance with a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Agriculture and Food, Department of Health, and the Division of Wildlife Resources, this rule governs the collection, importation, exportation, transportation, and possession of animals and their parts.

(2) Nothing in this rule shall be construed as superseding the provisions set forth in Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code of Utah. Any provision of this rule setting forth a criminal violation that overlaps a section of that title is provided in this rule only as a clarification or to provide greater specificity needed for the administration of the provisions of this rule.

(3) In addition to this rule, the Wildlife Board may allow the collection, importation, transportation, propagation and possession of species of animal species under specific circumstances as provided in Rules R657-4 through R657-6, R657-9 through R657-11, R657-13, R657-14, R657-16, R657-19, R657-20 through R657-22, R657-33, R657-37, R657-38, R657-40, R657-41, R657-43, R657-44, R657-46 and R657-52 through R657-60. Where a more specific provision has been adopted, that provision shall control.

(4) The importation, distribution, relocation, holding in captivity or possession of coyotes and raccoons in Utah is governed by the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board and is prohibited under Section 4-23-11 and Rule R657-14, except as permitted by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

(5) This rule does not apply to division employees acting within the scope of their assigned duties.

(6) The English and scientific names used throughout this rule for animals are, at the time of publication, the most widely accepted names. The English and the scientific names of animals change, and the names used in this rule are to be considered synonymous with names in earlier use and with names that, at any time after publication of this rule, may supersede those used herein.

 

R657-3-4. Definitions.

(1) Terms used for purposes of this rule are defined in Section 23-13-2 and Subsection (2) through Subsection ([29]33).

(2)(a) "Animal" means:

(i) native, naturalized, and nonnative animals belonging to a species that naturally occurs in the wild, including animals captured from the wild or born or raised in captivity;

(ii) hybrids of any native, naturalized, or nonnative species or subspecies of animal, including hybrids between wild and domestic species or subspecies; and

(iii) viable embryos or gametes (eggs or sperm) of any native, naturalized, or nonnative species or subspecies of animals.

(b) "Animal" does not include species listed in Subsection R657-3-2, domestic species, or amphibians or reptiles as defined in Rule R657-53.

(3) "Aquaculture" means the controlled cultivation of aquatic animals.

(4)(a) "Aquaculture facility" means any tank, canal, raceway, pond, off-stream reservoir, or other structure used for aquaculture. "Aquaculture facility" does not include any public aquaculture facility or fee fishing facility.

(b) Structures that are separated by more than 1/2 mile, or structures that drain to or are modified to drain to, different drainages, are considered separate aquaculture facilities regardless of ownership.

(5) "Aquatic animal" means a member of any species of fish, mollusk, or crustacean, including their eggs or sperm.

(6) "Captive-bred" means any privately owned animal, which is born inside of and has spent its entire life in captivity and is the offspring of privately owned animals that are born inside of and have spent their entire life in captivity.

(7) "Certificate of registration" means an official document issued by the division authorizing the collection, importation, transportation, and possession of an animal or animals. A certificate of registration number may be issued in order to obtain an entry permit number and the entry permit number must in turn be provided to the division before final approval and issuance of the certificate of registration.

(8) "Certificate of veterinary inspection" means an official health authorization issued by an accredited veterinarian required for the importation of animals, as provided in Rule R58-1.

(9) "CFR" means the Code of Federal Regulations.

(10) "CITES" means the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

(a) Appendix I of CITES protects threatened species from all international commercial trade; and

(b) Appendix II of CITES regulates trade in species not threatened with extinction, but which may become threatened if trade goes unregulated.

(c) CITES appendices are published periodically by the CITES Secretariat and may be viewed at http://www.cites.org which is incorporated herein by reference.

(11) "Collect" means to take, catch, capture, salvage, or kill any animal within Utah.

(12) "Commercial use" means any activity through which a person in possession of an animal:

(a) receives any consideration for that animal or for a use of that animal, including nuisance control and roadkill removal; or

(b) expects to recover all or any part of the cost of keeping the animal through selling, bartering, trading, exchanging, breeding, or other use, including displaying the animal for entertainment, advertisement, or business promotion.

(13) "Controlled species" means a species or subspecies of animal that if taken from the wild, introduced into the wild, or held in captivity, poses a possible significant detrimental impact to wild populations, the environment, or human health or safety, and for which a certificate of registration is required.

(14) "Domestic" means an animal that belongs to a species which is notably different from its wild ancestors through generations of selective breeding and taming in captivity by humans for food, commodities, transportation, assistance, work, protection, companionship, display and other beneficial purposes.

(15) "Educational use" means the possession and use of an animal for conducting educational activities concerning wildlife.

(16) "Entry permit number" means a number issued by the state veterinarian's office to a veterinarian signing a certificate of veterinary inspection. The entry permit number must be written on the certificate of veterinary inspection before the importation of the animal. This number must be provided to the division prior to final approval and issuance of a certificate of registration. The entry permit is valid only for 30 days after its issuance.

(17) "Export" means to move or cause to move any animal from Utah by any means.

(18) "Fee fishing facility" means a body of water used for holding or rearing fish to provide fishing for a fee or for pecuniary consideration or advantage.

(19) "Import" means to bring or cause an animal to be brought into Utah by any means.

(20)["Native species"](a) "Marine aquatic animal" means a member of any species of fish, mollusk, or crustacean that spends its entire life cycle in a marine environment.

(b) "Marine aquatic animal" does not include:

(i) anadromous aquatic animal species;

(ii) species that temporarily or permanently reside in brackish water; and

(iii) species classified as invasive or nuisance by state or federal law.

(21) "Native species" means any species or subspecies of animal that historically occurred in Utah and has not been introduced by humans or migrated into Utah as a result of human activity.

([21]22) "Naturalized species" means any species or subspecies of animal that is not native to Utah but has established a wild, self-sustaining population in Utah.

([22]23) "Noncontrolled species" means a species or subspecies of animal that if taken from the wild, introduced into the wild, or held in captivity poses no detrimental impact to wild populations, the environment, or human health or safety, and for which a certificate of registration is not required, unless otherwise specified.

([23]24)(a) "Nonnative species" means a species or subspecies of animal that is not native to Utah.

(b) "Nonnative species" does not include domestic animals or naturalized species of animals.

([24]25)(a) "Ornamental aquatic animal species" means any species of fish, mollusk, or crustacean that is commonly cultured and sold in the United States' aquarium industry for display.

(b) "Ornamental aquatic animal species" does not include;

(i) fresh water;

(A) sport fish -- aquatic animal species commonly angled or harvested for recreation or sport;

(B) baitfish -- aquatic animal species authorized for use as bait in R657-13-12, and any other species commonly used by anglers as bait in sport fishing;

(C) food fish -- aquatic animal species commonly cultured or harvested from the wild for human consumption; or

(D) native species; or

(ii) aquatic animal species prohibited for importation or possession by any state, federal, or local law; or

(iii) aquatic animal species listed as prohibited or controlled in Sections R657-3-22 and R657-3-23.

([25]26) "Personal use" means the possession and use of an animal for a hobby or for its intrinsic pleasure and where no consideration for the possession or use of the animal is received by selling, bartering, trading, exchanging, breeding, hunting or any other use.

([26]27) "Possession" means to physically retain or to exercise dominion or control over an animal.

([27]28) "Prohibited species" means a species or subspecies of animal that if taken from the wild, introduced into the wild, or held in captivity, poses a significant detrimental impact to wild populations, the environment, or human health or safety, and for which a certificate of registration shall only be issued in accordance with this rule and any applicable federal laws.

([28]29) "Public aquaculture facility" means a tank, canal, raceway, pond, off-stream reservoir, or other structure used for aquaculture by the division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a school, or an institution of higher education.

([29]30) "Resident Canada Goose" means Canada geese that nest within Utah in urban environments during the months of March, April, May or June.

([30]31) "Scientific use" means the possession and use of an animal for conducting scientific research that is directly or indirectly beneficial to wildlife or the general public.

([31]32) "Transport" means to move or cause to move any animal within Utah by any means.

([32]33) "Wildlife Registration Office" means the division office in Salt Lake City responsible for processing applications and issuing certificates of registration.

 

R657-3-11. Certificate of Registration.

(1)(a) [A]Except as provided in Subsection (8) a person shall obtain a certificate of registration before collecting, importing, transporting, possessing or propagating any species of animal or its parts classified as prohibited or controlled, except as otherwise provided in this rule, statute or rules and orders of the Wildlife Board.

(b) A certificate of registration is not required:

(i) to collect, import, transport, possess, or propagate any species or subspecies of animal classified as noncontrolled;

(ii) to export any species or subspecies of animal from Utah, provided that the animal is held in legal possession; or

(iii) to collect, transport or possess brine shrimp and brine shrimp eggs for personal use, provided:

(A) the brine shrimp and brine shrimp eggs are collected, transported and possessed together with water in a container no larger than one gallon;

(B) no more than a one gallon container of brine shrimp and brine shrimp eggs, including water, is collected during any consecutive seven day period; and

(C) the brine shrimp or brine shrimp eggs following possession are not released live into the Great Salt Lake, Sevier River or any of their tributary waters.

(c) Applications for animals classified as prohibited shall not be accepted by the division without providing written justification describing how the applicant's proposed collection, importation, or possession of the animal meets the criteria provided in Subsections R657-3-20(1)(b) or R657-3-18(4)(b).

(2)(a) Certificates of registration are not transferable and expire December 31 of the year issued, except as otherwise designated on the certificate of registration.

(b) If the holder of a certificate of registration is a representative of an institution, organization, business, or agency, the certificate of registration shall expire effective upon the date of the representative's discontinuation of association with that entity.

(c) Certificates of registration do not provide the holder any rights of succession and any certificate of registration issued to a business or organization shall be void upon the termination of the business or organization or upon bankruptcy or transfer or death of the COR holder.

(3)(a) The issuance of a certificate of registration automatically incorporates within its terms the conditions and requirements of this rule specifically governing the activity for which the certificate of registration is issued.

(b) Any person accepting a certificate of registration under this rule acknowledges the necessity for periodic regulation and monitoring by the division.

(4) In addition to this rule, the division may impose specific requirements on the holder of the certificate of registration necessary for the safe and humane handling and care of the animal involved, including requirements for veterinary care, cage or holding pen sizes and standards, feeding requirements, social grouping requirements, and other requirements considered necessary by the division for the health and welfare of the animal or the public.

(5)(a) Upon or before the expiration date of a certificate of registration, the holder must apply for a renewal of the certificate of registration to continue the activity.

(b) The division may use the criteria provided in Section R657-3-14 in determining whether to renew the certificate of registration.

(c) It is unlawful for a person to possess an animal for which a certificate of registration is required if that person;

(i) does not have a valid certificate of registration authorizing possession of the animal; or

(ii) fails to submit a renewal application to the division prior to the expiration of an existing certificate of registration authorizing possession of the animal.

(d) If a renewal application is not submitted to the division by the expiration date, live or dead animals held in possession under the expired certificate of registration shall be considered unlawfully held and may be seized by the division.

(e) If a renewal application is submitted to the division before the expiration date of the existing certificate of registration, continued possession of the animal under the expired certificate of registration shall remain lawful while the renewal application is pending.

(6) Failure to submit timely, accurate, or valid reports as required under Section R657-3-16 or the terms of a certificate of registration may disqualify a person from renewing an existing certificate of registration or obtaining a new certificate of registration.

(7) A certificate of registration may be suspended as provided in this rule, Section 23-19-9 and Rule R657-26.

(8)(a) A certificate of registration is not required to import, possess, or transfer a live marine aquatic animal classified as noncontrolled, controlled or prohibited, provided the marine aquatic animal is:

(i) imported, possessed, or transferred for purposes of immediate human consumption;

(ii) possessed live no longer than 30 days from the date of importation or the date of receipt, if acquired from an intrastate source;

(iii) held in a tank or aquaria with an effluent that discharges into a sewage treatment system or other area that does not drain into any surface water source;

(iv) never released in any water source, including sewer systems;

(v) acquired from a lawful source and documentation of purchase is retained; and

(vi) imported and possessed in compliance with applicable state and federal laws, including the importation requirements in R657-3-25.

(b) A certificate of registration is not required to import, possess, or transfer a dead aquatic animal or its parts classified as noncontrolled, controlled or prohibited, provided it is:

(i) imported, possessed, or transferred for purposes of immediate human consumption;

(ii) acquired from a lawful source and documentation of purchase is retained; and

(b) imported and possessed in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

 

KEY: wildlife, animal protection, import restrictions, zoological animals

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [November 10, 2015]2016

Notice of Continuation: March 5, 2013

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23-14-18; 23-14-19; 23-20-3; 23-13-14; 63G-7-101 et seq.