[Federal Register: July 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 42960-42961]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jy04-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 00-002-3]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment
request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's
intention to request an extension of approval of an information
collection in support of regulations that to allow us to pay indemnity
for sheep, goats, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
September 17, 2004.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 00-002-3,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. 00-002-3.
E-mail: Address your comment to
regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comment must be contained in the body
of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name
and address in your message and ``Docket No. 00-002-3'' on the subject
line.
Agency Web site: Go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/cominst.html
for a form you can use to submit an e-mail comment through
the APHIS Web site.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the
Federal Register and related information, including the names of groups
and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the domestic
regulations to help prevent the spread of brucellosis, contact Dr.
Debra A. Donch, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Animal Health
Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231;
(301) 734-6954. For copies of more detailed information on the
information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS'
Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Brucellosis in Sheep, Goats, Horses; Payment of Indemnity.
OMB Number: 0579-0185.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the importation and
interstate movement of animals and animal products, and conducts
various other activities to protect the health of our Nation's
livestock and poultry.
Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by bacteria of the genus
Brucella. It affects both animals and humans. In its principal animal
hosts, it causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or birth of
weak offspring, reduced milk production, and infertility. There is no
economically feasible treatment for brucellosis in livestock.
Brucellosis is mainly a disease of cattle, bison, and swine. Brucella
abortus affects mainly bovines; B. suis affects mainly swine. Goats,
sheep, and horses are also susceptible to B. abortus. In horses, the
disease is known as fistulous withers. A third strain of Brucella, B.
melitensis, affects mainly goats and sheep.
The regulations in 9 CFR part 51 include an indemnity program for
sheep, goats, and horses that must be destroyed because of brucellosis.
This indemnity program, which is similar to our indemnity program for
cattle and bison, is voluntary and was designed to give producers an
incentive to cooperate and assist our ongoing program to eradicate
brucellosis in the United States.
The indemnity program for the voluntary depopulation of herds of
goats, flocks of sheep, and mixed herds of goats and sheep affected
with brucellosis and individual horses infected with brucellosis
requires the use of a number of information collection activities,
including the completion of indemnity claims, test records, and
permits; the use of official seals and animal identification; and the
submission of proof of destruction and requests for the extension of
certain program-related deadlines.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3
years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection.
These comments will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
[[Page 42961]]
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the
information collection, including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who
are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic,
mechanical, and other collection technologies, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average 0.142857142 hours per response.
Respondents: Sheep, goat, and horse owners who may be eligible to
participate in a brucellosis indemnity program; State and accredited
veterinarians; and slaughter plant operators.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 4.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.75.
Estimated annual number of responses: 7.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1 hour. (Due to
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per
response.)
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of July 2004.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16279 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P