NOTICES Transmissible Disease Through Issuance of a Temporary DEPARTMENT of AGING Order Making That Designation
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5272 NOTICES transmissible disease through issuance of a Temporary DEPARTMENT OF AGING Order making that designation. Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council; Location H. The Department issued a Temporary Order, through Change for the October 8, 2020, and the Decem- publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin [50 Pa.B., No. ber 10, 2020, Virtual Meetings 25, 3013], on June 20, 2020, designating RHD as a dangerous transmissible disease. Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the I. RHD is also currently considered a foreign animal Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council’s October 8, 2020, disease in the United States. and December 10, 2020, meetings will now be held J. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (De- remotely by means of WebEx. The start time will remain partment) has broad authority under the Domestic Ani- 10 a.m. Individuals who wish to attend the October 8, mal Law (3 Pa.C.S. §§ 2301—2389) to regulate the 2020, and the December 10, 2020, meetings are asked to keeping and handling of domestic animals to exclude, contact Jodi Tucker, (717) 772-1624, [email protected]. contain or eliminate dangerous transmissible diseases Individuals in need of accommodations as provided for such as RHD. in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 should K. The Department also has broad authority under the contact Jodi Tucker, (717) 772-1624, [email protected]. Domestic Animal Law to establish and enforce an Inter- ROBERT TORRES, state and International quarantine against any place or Secretary places outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Com- [Pa.B. Doc. No. 20-1310. Filed for public inspection September 25, 2020, 9:00 a.m.] monwealth) to exclude, contain or eliminate dangerous transmissible diseases such as RHD. (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2329(c)). Order of Quarantine With the foregoing recitals incorporated into this Order DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE by reference, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture under authority of the Domestic Animal Law, at Interstate/International Quarantine Order; Rabbit 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2329(c) and § 1702 of the Administrative Hemorrhagic Disease Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 442), hereby establishes an Interstate and International Order of Quarantine related to the dangerous transmissible disease Rabbit Hemor- Recitals rhagic Disease and the importation or shipment of rabbits A. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a fatal dis- into and through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ease of domestic and wild rabbits of the family Leporidae, Compliance and assurance of compliance with the provi- which includes hares, jackrabbits and cottontails. RHD is sions and terms of this Quarantine Order shall be the caused by a calicivirus and there are several strains of responsibility of all persons, individuals and entities RHD virus which cause disease. subject to its terms. The terms of this Order are as B. Isolated cases of RHD have appeared intermittently follows: in the United States since 2000. In 2020, outbreaks of 1. Quarantine Area. This Interstate and International RHD have been reported in domestic rabbits, cottontail Order of Quarantine is applicable to all States, Common- rabbits, and hares in the United States. Rabbit Hemor- wealths and territories of the United States of America rhagic Disease Virus Serotype 2 (RHDV-2) has been and any foreign country in which the dangerous transmis- reported from several states. sible disease RHD exists or there is a reasonable suspi- C. RHDV-2 is highly contagious and affects both do- cion it exists. mestic and wild rabbits. An isolated case of RHDV-1 was 2. Applicable definitions. identified in two domestic rabbits in a northwestern ‘‘Accredited veterinarian’’—A licensed veterinarian county in Pennsylvania in November 2018. RHDV-1 is not jointly accredited by the United States Department of known to affect wild rabbits but is also highly contagious. Agriculture (USDA) and the Department in the state the D. There is no licensed vaccine to protect rabbits veterinarian is licensed to perform official duties on against RHD in the United States, nor is there a known behalf of USDA or the Department in the state in which cure or treatment for this disease. the veterinarian is licensed to practice veterinary medi- E. The virus causing RHD can be transmitted by direct cine. contact with infected rabbits or indirectly through car- ‘‘Interstate Health Certificate’’ or ‘‘ICVI’’—A legible offi- casses, food, water, and any contaminated materials, and cial document issued by the chief livestock health official it is very resistant to extreme temperatures. RHD has not of the state of origin, or the USDA, prepared by an been shown to affect people or other mammals. accredited veterinarian of the state of origin certifying the F. Infected rabbits often show few clinical signs and die health of the animal described therein, and validated by within six to 24 hours after the onset of fever and may the chief livestock health official of the state of origin. have blood visible around the nose due to internal ‘‘Rabbit’’—For the purpose of this document, the term hemorrhaging. Morbidity rate is often 100%, and the ‘‘rabbit’’ will include domestic and wild rabbits of the mortality rate is often 60%—90%. family Leporidae, which includes hares, jackrabbits and G. Under the Domestic Animal Law at, 3 Pa.C.S. cottontails. § 2321(d) (relating to dangerous transmissible diseases), 3. No rabbits or their products, such as, meat, pelts, the Department has authority to declare a disease that hides, carcasses or other items, and no equipment, ex- has not been specifically identified in that statute as a posed feed or conveyances or other items or associated ‘‘dangerous transmissible disease’’ to be a dangerous materials may enter the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN, VOL. 50, NO. 39, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 NOTICES 5273 from a Commonwealth, State, Territory, or Country where 4. Violations/Penalties. Any person violating the re- RHD has been diagnosed in the prior twelve (12) months quirements of this Order shall be subject to enforcement or there is a reasonable suspicion it exists unless they and penalties as are allowed under the provisions of the meet the following requirements: Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2301 et seq.), which (a) All live rabbits must be accompanied by an ICVI include revocation of license, criminal prosecution, issu- and must be examined by an accredited veterinarian ance of civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, within the seventy-two (72) hours prior to the date of injunctive relief or all or any combination of such penal- shipment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The ties. ICVI must include statements by an accredited veterinar- ian certifying that: 5. No Restriction on Further Action by the Department. This Order shall not be construed as limiting the Depart- (i) All rabbits in the shipment have been examined for ment’s authority to establish additional quarantine or and found free of infectious, contagious or communicable testing requirements or take any actions otherwise per- diseases; mitted under applicable statute or regulation. (ii) All rabbits have originated from a single premises that has no signs of infectious, contagious or communi- 6. Contact information. Questions regarding this cable disease in rabbits; Interstate/International Quarantine Order may be ad- (iii) There have been no movements of rabbits onto the dressed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Depart- premises of origin within the 90 days prior to the date of ment of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health, shipment; and 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110; or by telephone at 717-772-2852; or by email at (iv) The rabbits have had no contact with wild or [email protected]. captive rabbits other than their cohorts in the 90 days prior to the date of shipment. 7. Effective Date. This Order is immediately effective (b) No rabbits or their products, such as, meat, pelts, upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and shall hides, carcasses or other items, and no equipment, ex- remain in effect unless rescinded or modified by subse- posed feed or conveyances or other items or associated quent order. materials may enter the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania RUSSELL C. REDDING, from a premises exposed to, contaminated with or known Secretary to be affected with RHD, or where there is a reasonable [Pa.B. Doc. No. 20-1311. Filed for public inspection September 25, 2020, 9:00 a.m.] suspicion the disease exists or the rabbits have been exposed to or infected with RHD. DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND SECURITIES Actions on Applications The Department of Banking and Securities (Department), under the authority in the Banking Code of 1965 (7 P.S. §§ 101—2204), the Department of Banking and Securities Code (71 P.S. §§ 733-1—733-1203) and 17 Pa.C.S. (relating to Credit Union Code), has taken the following actions on applications received for the week ending September 15, 2020. Under section 503.E of the Department of Banking and Securities Code (71 P.S. § 733-503.E), any person wishing to comment on the following applications, with the exception of branch applications, may file comments in writing with the Department of Banking and Securities, Bank Supervision or Credit Union and Trust Supervision (as applicable), 17 North Second Street, Suite 1300, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2290. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date notice regarding receipt of the application is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The nonconfidential portions of the applications are on file at the Department and are available for public inspection, by appointment only, during regular business hours. To schedule an appointment, for banks (717) 783-8240 and for credit unions and trust companies (717) 783-2253. Photocopies of the nonconfidential portions of the applications may be requested consistent with the Department’s Right-to-Know Law Records Request policy.