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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">As you all know, if you
want to use the APHIS e-permit system, you've got to get Level 2
e-authentication (for security reasons). That used to mean doing
the online application and then driving to a USDA Service Center
for an in-person identification check.<br>
<br>
APHIS has been terrifically helpful in going to scientific society
meetings, museums, and other locations to take care of the
in-person ID check, but that obviously isn't something they can
continue doing now that most people already have Level 2
e-authentication.<br>
<br>
However, to make new e-authentications easier, they have set up a
pilot self-certification e-Authentication system, as described
below, and they are kindly including the research community to
take part in this pilot program. <br>
<br>
I realize that many of you already have your e-authentication, but
if you have others in your museums or universities who for some
reason need their own permits and therefore need to get
e-authentication, this should make life easier for them.
Therefore, please share this information with your colleagues and
students, but before they start this process, you (and they) may
want to consider whether you want to allow them to use your
permit. Doing so would require a letter from you on the
institution's letterhead, signed in blue ink, giving them
permission to use Permit # XXXX for import (describe the import
and the approximate date of the import). Now the drawback here is
always you must now be vigilant about that individual doing the
import correctly, including treatment methods (if required),
documentation (certificate of treatment or certificate of origin),
other permits such as USFWS (if needed) and the paperwork
associated with any wildlife import, not to mention restrictions
as to ports and dates/times of imports for certain species. You
may or may not want to be responsible for someone else's
compliance, and if you don't, then that individual will need to
get his/her own permits and this self-authentication process
should be helpful. <br>
<br>
Ellen Paul<br>
Executive Director<br>
Ornithological Council<br>
Phone (301) 986 8568<br>
</font>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;
color:#1F497D"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D"> </span></b><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D"></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dear
APHIS Permit Holder,</span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS),
National Center for Import and Export (NCIE) is strongly
encouraging permit holders to register for an
eAuthentication account. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Some
of the many advantages of having an eAuthentication account
include:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol"><span style="">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Access
the electronic permitting system – ePermits</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol"><span style="">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ability
to apply for New Import Permits, Amend, or Renew existing
permits online, and copy your applications with minimal data
entry</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol"><span style="">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Reprint
permits at any time</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol"><span style="">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Securely
submit credit card payments online</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol"><span style="">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Manage
your own information to prevent transcription errors</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Symbol"><span style="">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A
single place to view and manage all of your applications,
permits, letters of no jurisdiction, denials, and other
permit related correspondence</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="+1"><b><span
style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">Introducing
Self-Certification – APHIS is currently offering select
permit holders a streamlined eAuthentication
registration process. This special process is initiated
online and completed over the phone. There will be <u>NO</u>
need for you to visit a USDA office to be validated by a
LRA (Local Registration Authority).
</span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">To
obtain an eAuthentication account:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New
Roman"">
</span></span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://identitymanager.eems.usda.gov/Registration/selfRegistrationForm.aspx?level=2"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Register
online</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> for a
Level 2 eAuthentication account at the following address: </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://identitymanager.eems.usda.gov/registration/selfRegistrationForm.aspx?level=2">https://identitymanager.eems.usda.gov/registration/selfRegistrationForm.aspx?level=2</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New
Roman""> </span></span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">You
will
<b><u>receive a confirmation email</u></b> from <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:eems.support@ocio.usda.gov">
eems.support@ocio.usda.gov</a> with the subject
“eAuthentication: Action Required - Instructions to Activate
Your USDA Account with Level 2 Access”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New
Roman"">
</span></span><b><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Click
the “<span style="color:#0033CC">ACTIVATE MY ACCOUNT</span>”</span></u></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> link
in the confirmation email.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><span
style="">4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New
Roman""> <b><font size="+1">
</font></b></span></span><b><font size="+1"><span
style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">The online
instructions then ask you to
</span><span style="font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";">present
your Government issued photo ID to a USDA Local
Registration Authority (LRA). You can skip this step.
</span><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";"></span></font></b></p>
<b><font size="+1">
</font></b>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><font size="+1"><span
style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></font></b></p>
<b><font size="+1">
</font></b>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><b><font
size="+1"><span style="">5)<span style="font-family:
"Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;
line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none;
font-stretch: normal; -moz-font-feature-settings:
normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal;"> </span></span><u><span
style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">Send an
email to</span></u><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">
</span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ePermitsHelp@aphis.usda.gov"><span
style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"; color:
rgb(0, 51, 204); text-decoration: none;">ePermitsHelp@aphis.usda.gov</span></a><span
style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"; color: rgb(0,
51, 204);">
</span><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">and include
the words – “Self Certify” in the subject line. Please
include your preferred contact phone number in the
email.</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<font size="+1"><b>
</b></font>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in"><font
size="+1"><b><span style="">6)<span style="font-family:
"Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;
line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none;
font-stretch: normal; -moz-font-feature-settings:
normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span
style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">A
representative from NCIE will call you. The
representative will ask you a series of questions to
confirm your identity. When you answer the questions
correctly, your ePermits account will be activated - you
will now have a USDA level 2 eAuthentication account.</span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.5in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For
further information, please email
</span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ePermitsHelp@aphis.usda.gov"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#0033CC; text-decoration:none">ePermitsHelp@aphis.usda.gov</span></a><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> or
call 1-866-794-2827</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.5in"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-.5in"><i><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""></span></i><b><i><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:red">Note: Online application submission is not
available for VS 16-3 select agent applicants. Please
continue to submit select agent applications by fax,
mail or email.</span></i></b>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For assistance with ePermits, please
contact ATAC 1-866-794-2827
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:ePermitsHelp@aphis.usda.gov">ePermitsHelp@aphis.usda.gov</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hours of Operation: M-F 6:30 - 8 PM ET
(Excluding Federal Holiday)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> This electronic message contains
information generated by the USDA solely for the intended
recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or
the use or disclosure of the information it contains may
violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal
penalties. If you believe you have received this message in
error, please notify the sender and delete the email
immediately.
<br>
</p>
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