[NAGDU] input requested about travel with our guide dogs and more

[nellie at culodge.com]

FYI:

 

U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks Comment on Amending Regulations
Concerning Service Animals on Flights

 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department) today
announced that it is seeking public comment on amending its Air Carrier
Access Act (ACAA) regulation on transportation of service animals.  The
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on Traveling By Air with
Service Animals can be found HERE
<http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=btYXC68syxmDVppb
hVzFoYHdeMNV9070xvOlf%2FNdDQ0wXj6aidRhmw3KMdY%2FC7s6Jj7Fjoa8nfB9jh%2BQaWPRC8
nxo6Z6cHBKa%2BYEyld3y4QadWOnArCjepWa%2BlzH%2BY2QxvxZbPZ7T2s%3D&G=0&R=https%3
A%2F%2Fwww.regulations.gov%2Fdocument%3FD%3DDOT-OST-2018-0068-0001&I=2018051
6181958.0000001eec77%40mail6-114-ussnn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhZmM3NjRjMzhhNDdiMz
IwOTU3MWYwNDs%3D&S=2jIqDJtBSxxuAXossF9SYwf9wKoKWlIVc1vaWBqiq3w>  and
provides the public with 45 days during which to offer comments.

Today's ANPRM is intended to address the significant concerns raised by
individuals with disabilities, other members of the public, airlines, flight
attendants, airports and other stakeholders regarding service animals on
aircraft.  The Department recognizes the integral role that service animals
play in the lives of many individuals with disabilities and wants to ensure
seamless access to air transportation for individuals with disabilities
while also helping to deter the fraudulent use of animals not qualified as
service animals. 

 

In this ANPRM, the Department solicits comment on: 

*	(1) treating psychiatric service animals similar to other service
animals;
*	(2) distinguishing between emotional support animals and other
service animals;
*	(3) requiring emotional support animals to travel in pet carriers
for the duration of the flight; 
*	(4) limiting the species of service animals and emotional support
animals that airlines are required to transport;
*	(5) limiting the number of service animals/emotional support animals
required to be transported per passenger;
*	(6) requiring service animal and emotional support animal users
confirm that their animal has been trained to behave in a public setting; 
*	(7) requiring service animals and emotional support animals have a
harness, leash, or other tether with narrow exceptions;
*	(8) limiting the size of emotional support animals or other service
animals that travel in the cabin and the potential impact of such a
limitation;
*	(9) prohibiting airlines from requiring a veterinary health form or
immunization record from service animal users without an individualized
assessment that the animal would pose a direct threat to the health or
safety of others or would cause a significant disruption in the aircraft
cabin; and
*	(10) no longer holding U.S. airlines responsible if a passenger
traveling under the U.S. carrier's code is only allowed to travel with a
service dog on a flight operated by its foreign code share partner.

 

Comments on the ANPRM must be received within 45 days of the date the notice
is published.  The ANPRM can be found at
<http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=btYXC68syxmDVppb
hVzFoYHdeMNV9070xvOlf%2FNdDQ0wXj6aidRhmw3KMdY%2FC7s6Jj7Fjoa8nfB9jh%2BQaWPRC8
nxo6Z6cHBKa%2BYEyld3y4QadWOnArCjepWa%2BlzH%2BY2QxvxZbPZ7T2s%3D&G=0&R=http%3A
%2F%2Fwww.regulations.gov%2F&I=20180516181958.0000001eec77%40mail6-114-ussnn
1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhZmM3NjRjMzhhNDdiMzIwOTU3MWYwNDs%3D&S=xKAG3SYZ1dqfHuq2lru
sSlXubpq-MMorGuNW-jNHAys> regulations.gov, docket number DOT-OST-2018-0068.

 

Today, the Department also issued an Interim Statement of Enforcement
Priorities Regarding Service Animals
<http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=btYXC68syxmDVppb
hVzFoYHdeMNV9070xvOlf%2FNdDQ0wXj6aidRhmw3KMdY%2FC7s6Jj7Fjoa8nfB9jh%2BQaWPRC8
nxo6Z6cHBKa%2BYEyld3y4QadWOnArCjepWa%2BlzH%2BY2QxvxZbPZ7T2s%3D&G=0&R=https%3
A%2F%2Fwww.regulations.gov%2Fdocument%3FD%3DDOT-OST-2018-0067-0001&I=2018051
6181958.0000001eec77%40mail6-114-ussnn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhZmM3NjRjMzhhNDdiMz
IwOTU3MWYwNDs%3D&S=B07f29Iz2Ke0i8PYzJnw1EjwNlJaJ6fPLp2QmSY1SNQ>  to inform
the public of its intended enforcement focus with respect to transportation
of service animals in the cabin.  Given that the service animal issue is
currently the subject of an open rulemaking, DOT's Enforcement Office will
focus its enforcement on clear violations of the current rule that have the
potential to adversely impact the largest number of persons.

 

The Department seeks comment on this interim statement, and intends to issue
a final statement after the close of the comment period.  Comments on this
interim statement must be received within 15 days of the date the statement
is 

 

Janell and Sully 

###