USDA Agricultural Research Centers — Visitor and Property Conduct Rules

Legal Authority

• 40 U.S.C. § 318 — Federal property management authority; authorizes federal agencies to prescribe rules governing visitor conduct on agency property
• 40 U.S.C. §§ 486, 753 — Additional General Services Administration-related property authorities applicable to federally owned research facilities
• 7 CFR Part 501 — Conduct rules for the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (Clay Center, NE)
• 7 CFR Part 502 — Conduct rules for the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (Beltsville, MD)
• 7 CFR Part 503 — Conduct rules for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (Plum Island, NY)

Key Mechanics

7 CFR Parts 501, 502, and 503 establish uniform conduct rules for visitors, contractors, and employees at three major USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facilities: the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska; the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland (the largest agricultural research complex in the world); and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York (a high-containment animal disease research facility). Each part prohibits the same core conduct: unauthorized entry, trespassing, damage to property, disturbing animals or research, weapons possession, disorderly conduct, and unauthorized photography or recording. Access to research facilities is controlled — visitors must sign in, have a legitimate purpose, and comply with any biosafety or security protocols for the specific facility. Plum Island has heightened access restrictions given its role as a high-containment (BSL-3) facility for studying foreign animal diseases. Violations are subject to federal trespass penalties under 40 U.S.C. § 318 and may result in barring the individual from future access. The regulations implement standard federal property conduct rules rather than any agriculture-specific statutory scheme.

Current Rule (2026)

What This Rule Does

The USDA Agricultural Research Service operates several major research campuses — facilities where scientists conduct livestock, crop, and animal disease research on behalf of American agriculture. Three CFR Parts govern conduct on these properties, covering everyone from visiting researchers to delivery drivers and construction workers. The rules are modeled on the same framework as 7 CFR Part 500 (the U.S. National Arboretum) but tailored to working research campuses rather than public gardens.

7 CFR Part 501 — U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC), Clay Center, Nebraska: the USDA's primary facility for livestock genetics, reproduction, and performance research for beef, swine, and sheep. Not open to the general public.

7 CFR Part 502 — Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Beltsville, Maryland: the largest USDA research complex, spanning approximately 6,700 acres near Washington, D.C. Conducts crop, animal, soil, and environmental research across dozens of laboratories and facilities.

7 CFR Part 503 — Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), Orient Point, New York: an island facility accessible only by ferry that conducts research on foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease; among the most secure agricultural research sites in the country. (Note: PIADC was transferred to DHS in 2003 and is now undergoing replacement by the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas — the CFR Part remains in force for the transition period.)

Key Provisions (Applies Across All Three Facilities)

Access and Presence

• § x01.1 — Rules apply to all land, buildings, and property at the facility; everyone present must comply
• § x01.2 — When the facility is closed to the public, only authorized persons may enter; security personnel may require sign-in or ID check
• § x01.3 — No intentional destruction, damage, or unauthorized removal of facility property; no open fires without Director approval; at Beltsville and Clay Center, no use of insecticides or herbicides without authorization

Traffic and Vehicles

• § x01.11 / § x01.12 — Drive safely and follow security staff directions; stay on established roads; no unauthorized parking; vehicles violating rules may be towed at owner's expense; vehicles used for construction or special purposes need pre-approval and designated routes

Safety Prohibitions

• § x01.12 / § x01.13 — No firearms, dangerous weapons, explosives, or fireworks anywhere on facility property; exceptions only for official law enforcement duties
• § x01.7 — No alcohol or narcotics while on the facility; no entering the facility while under the influence

Research Animal and Specimen Rules

• At all three facilities, the presence of working research animals and regulated biological materials creates additional requirements beyond standard federal property rules:
  • Part 501 (Clay Center): all animals on the property belong to the research program; visitors may not disturb, feed, or interact with research animals without explicit authorization
  • Part 502 (Beltsville): with 6,700 acres and dozens of active research programs, visitors must stay on designated paths and not enter restricted research areas; research crops and experimental plant materials are protected property
  • Part 503 (Plum Island): uniquely strict — no pets or animals of any kind may be brought onto the island; all persons and materials are subject to biosecurity protocols; photography requires written permission from the PIADC Director before any photography on site (unlike other facilities, which allow general news photography without prior approval)

Pets

• Part 501: pets require written permission from the Research Center Director before being brought on site
• Part 502: pets must be on leash and vaccinated; assistance animals exempt
• Part 503: no pets or animals permitted under any circumstances

Photography

• Parts 501 and 502: general and news photography is permitted; commercial photography requires prior approval
• Part 503: all photography — including news — requires prior written permission from the PIADC Director due to the classified nature of foreign animal disease research

Soliciting and Distribution

• No commercial soliciting, begging, petitioning, or distributing handbills on facility property without authorization; exceptions for federal charity drives and employee bulletin boards

Nondiscrimination

• All three facilities must comply with USDA nondiscrimination requirements; no segregation or differential treatment based on race, sex, religion, color, or national origin

Penalties

• Violations are punishable under 18 U.S.C. with fines and/or up to 30 days imprisonment; facility rules do not supersede state or local law

How It Affects You

Visiting researchers, contractors, and delivery personnel: These facilities are working research campuses, not public attractions. Access requires authorization. Biosecurity protocols — especially at Plum Island — are enforced strictly. Follow posted signs and security personnel instructions. Unauthorized interaction with research animals, plants, or biological materials can disrupt federally funded research programs.

Photographers and journalists: At Clay Center and Beltsville, general news photography is generally permitted. At Plum Island, all photography requires prior written Director approval — the facility's foreign animal disease research (foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, and similar pathogens) creates biosecurity concerns that override the normal presumption in favor of press access.

Event planners and facility users: These are not public venues. Unlike the National Arboretum (which rents event space), the MARC, BARC, and PIADC are closed research facilities. Access is tightly controlled and commercial activities on the grounds are not permitted.

The future of Plum Island: The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas — fully operational since 2023 — has replaced Plum Island as the primary U.S. foreign animal disease research center. PIADC has been wound down and its remaining research and reference functions transitioned to NBAF; the General Services Administration has been authorized to sell the Plum Island property. The regulatory framework in 7 CFR Part 503 remains on the books during the closeout period.

Statutory Authority

This rule implements:

• 40 U.S.C. § 318 — Authority to make and enforce rules for buildings and grounds under federal agency control
• 40 U.S.C. § 486 — Federal Property and Administrative Services Act authority for property management
• 40 U.S.C. § 753 — Additional federal property protection authority

Recent Rulemakings

No major Federal Register amendments reported for Parts 501, 502, or 503.

Pending Action