Federal government clears Santa Claus and reindeer to enter U.S.

By Keith Coffman
DENVER, Dec 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of
Agriculture has granted a first-of-its kind Christmas Eve waiver
for a herd of reindeer to enter the United States, bypassing the
agency's usually stringent requirements on the importation of
livestock.
The agency said in a statement issued on Thursday it was
allowing "S. Claus of the North Pole, broker of Worldwide
Gifts," to skip routine disease-transmission screening for live
animals entering the United States, noting that a recent
inspection had deemed his hooved team a "negligible risk."
"During this season of giving, we agreed to waive the normal
application fees and entry inspection/overtime costs," said Dr.
John Clifford, the USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer. "USDA wants
to do everything in its power to help Santa."
The edict was one of several by federal agencies they say
are designed to ease the movement of Santa Claus as he makes his
global trek to deliver presents to good boys and girls.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that he
had approved an application by "Mr. Kris Kringle for special air
transportation operating authority" to allow a reindeer-powered
sleigh to traverse U.S. airspace after it was equipped with
supplemental safety and navigation gear.
"The Federal Aviation Administration has inspected the
unusual vehicle and certified its airworthiness," Foxx said.
Separately, the North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is marking its 60th year
of tracking St. Nicholas as he makes his annual worldwide
flight.
The holiday practice originated in 1955, when a Colorado
Springs newspaper misprinted the phone number of a local
department store for kids to call in and speak to Santa, instead
listing the number for what was then called the Continental Air
Defense Command.
An officer there took calls from several children and
assured them Santa was on schedule, beginning a tradition that
now employs modern technology, including a smart-phone app and
social media.
In addition to providing real-time satellite tracking of
Santa on its website at www.noradsanta.org, NORAD has a call
line for children to talk to a live operator to get the latest
news on Santa's whereabouts.
NORAD spokesman Mike Kucharek said a squadron of fighter
jets briefly escort Santa's sleigh when he enters Canadian and
U.S. air space, .
"Santa has to slow down for them because he travels at the
speed of starlight," Kucharek said, adding that his exact flight
plan is classified.

(Editing by Steve Gorman and Paul Tait)