Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on November 29, 2010, at 6:30 p.m., at the Fort Harrison State Park Inn, Theodore Room, 5830 North Post Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Natural Resources Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to 312 IAC 9-10-9 governing wild animal rehabilitation permits.

IC 4-22-2-24(d)(3) Justification Statement: These rule changes will impose costs and requirements on regulated entities, which are individual permitted wild animal rehabilitators. New requirements include passing a test to get a permit (except for those who meet the exemption), requiring continuing education, and adding more specific requirements for the housing, releasing, euthanizing, and disposing of the wild animals that they take in for rehabilitation. They will also have to notify the DNR of any suspicious criminal activity related to the animals they have taken in or if any endangered species are taken in for rehabilitation. The number of permitted wild animal rehabilitators that will be affected by these rule changes is approximately 150. All requirements or costs by the rule amendments on regulated entities under IC 4-22-2-24(d)(3) are reasonably necessary to the Department's responsibility to provide for the protection, reproduction, care, management, survival, and regulation of wild animal populations as required under IC 14-22-2-3. Trained, certified wildlife biologists believe that these changes will help provide for healthier populations and reduce predation on species that are already in peril. These changes are needed to ensure that wild animals are being housed and cared for properly and are not affecting the welfare of wild animal populations. Sources of information for determining costs and benefits were obtained from the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Advisory Group, DNR conservation officers, and staff from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. The number of permitted wild animal rehabilitators was obtained from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife's database of permit holders.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N501 and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.