(1) Each licensed game farm must
have a department approved quarantine facility within its perimeter fence or
submit a quarantine action plan to the department that guarantees the licensee
unlimited access to an approved quarantine facility on another licensed game
farm within the state of Montana.
(2) A game farm license or the approval for expansion of the game farm shall
not be granted by the department of fish, wildlife and parks until the license
applicant receives department approval of the quarantine facility and handling
facilities.
(3) The applicant for a game farm license shall submit the following to the
department and department of fish, wildlife and parks at the time the
application (or application for an expansion) for the game farm license is
submitted to the department of fish, wildlife and parks:
(a) design plans for the applicant's game farm catch pen and handling
facilities required under ARM 32.4.801;
(b) detailed design specifications for a quarantine facility on the property
owned or leased by the applicant and identified on the game farm license
application; or
(c) a quarantine plan for the quarantine of animals at an approved
quarantine facility located on another licensed game farm (host) . This plan
must include:
(i) recognition that animals must meet all inspection, transportation and
testing requirements prior to movement;
(ii) a signed statement from the game farm licensee (host) who is allowing
the applicant unrestricted use of his quarantine facility. This statement must
define the period of time for which the applicant/licensee has permission to
use the quarantine facility; and
(iii) if the game farm licensee (host) revokes the privilege to use his
quarantine facility, or if the privilege is consensual for a defined period of
time which has expired, the applicant/licensee has 30 days to design his own
facilities and submit the plans to the department for approval. The
applicant/licensee must construct the facility within 90 days of department
approval of the plans.
(4) Design specifications for a quarantine facility shall include all
measured dimensions of the proposed facility (heights and perimeters) and shall
include the location and materials for fences, location of any shelters,
feeding or water sources, location of the quarantine facility within the
licensed game farm property, streams, slopes of property, gates, and access to
holding facilities. The specifications for a quarantine facility must meet the
following:
(a) a requirement for fencing to extend upward 8 feet from the ground level
and meet one of the following criteria:
(i) a solid wall; and
(ii) a required separation distance of greater than 14 feet between the
animals placed under quarantine and all other animals, including public
wildlife. This can be accomplished by:
(A) construction of double fences, greater than 14 feet apart; or
(B) creation of a quarantine pen utilizing vacated surrounding pens to
create the separation distance required in (4) (a) (ii) . No pen surrounding the
quarantine pen may be utilized for any purpose during the quarantine period.
(b) provisions for confined animals that include the humane holding and care
of the quarantined animals for an extended period of time and include provisions
for the following:
(i) feeding facilities isolated from contact by any other animals;
(ii) water available at all times and isolated from contact by any other
animals; and
(iii) shelter provided for the animals.
(c) the quarantine pen must meet the following:
(i) it must be located on relatively flat ground in order to prevent egress
or ingress of animals. If built on a slope, the department may require
additional measures be taken to prevent ingress or egress;
(ii) fecal wastes and water must not drain from the quarantine pen to any
other pens or area of the game farm, or into an area outside the game farm
where wildlife, animals, livestock or people could come into contact with such
wastes. The department may require additional measures be implemented to
prevent run off from the quarantine pen into state waters; and
(iii) The quarantine pen may not include any surface water body of state
waters within its boundary.
(d) The facility shall include a means to move the animals from the
quarantine facility to the handling facility.
(5) The state veterinarian may require additional modifications to the
quarantine facility as determined necessary.
(6) The department may waive requirements on a site specific basis if it is
determined the conditions of quarantine are not compromised by granting the
waiver.