[Federal Register: November 1, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 210)]
[Notices]
[Page 63344-63346]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01no04-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
October 26, 2004.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of
[[Page 63345]]
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Pamela--Beverly _OIRA_Submission@omb .eop.gov or fax (202)
395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop
7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information
collections are best assured of having their full effect if received
within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be
obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: 9 CFR 85 Psuedorabies.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0070.
Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, is charged
with taking actions deemed necessary to prevent the introduction or
dissemination of any contagious infections or communicable disease of
animals or poultry from one State or Territory of the United States to
another. APHIS implements regulations that control and stop the
escalating spread of pseudorabies, which is a herpes virus disease that
affects many specifies of animal, but primarily swine. Regulating the
interstate movement of swine requires the use of certain information
gathering activities such as permits, certificates, and owner-shipper
statements to ascertain the health status of the swine.
Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used
by APHIS to monitor the health status of swine being moved, the number
of swine being moved in a particular shipment, the shipment's point of
origin, the shipment's destination, and the reason for the interstate
movement. This information also provides APHIS officials with critical
information concerning a shipment's history, which in turn enables
APHIS to engage in swift, successful trace back investigations when
infected swine are discovered.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Federal government; State,
local, or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 30,050.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion;
quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 8,567.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Scrapie Flock Certification, Animal Identification, and
Indemnification Procedures.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0101.
Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) regulates the importation and interstate movement of
animals and animal products, and conducts various other activities to
protect the health of the Nation's livestock and poultry. Scrapie is a
progressive, degenerative and eventually fatal disease affecting the
central nervous system of sheep and goats. Its control is complicated
because the disease has an extremely long incubation period without
clinical signs of disease, and there is no test or known treatment for
the disease. Regulations in 9 CFR part 79 restrict the interstate
movement of certain sheep and goats to help prevent the spread of
scrapie. APHIS also has regulations at 9 CFR part 54 for an indemnity
program to compensate owners of sheep and goats destroyed because of
scrapie.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information
using cooperative agreements; applications from owners to participate
in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program; post-exposure management
and monitoring plans; scrapie test records; application for indemnity
payments; certificates, permits, and owner statements for the
interstate movement of certain sheep and goats; application for
premises identification numbers; and applications for APHIS-approved
eartags, back tags, or tattoos. Without this information, APHIS'
efforts to more aggressively prevent the spread of scrapie would be
severely hindered.
Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit;
State, local, or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 150,000.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 85,151.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Exotic Newcastle Disease in Birds and Poultry; Chlamydiosis
in Poultry.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0116.
Summary of Collection: Velogenic or exotic Newcastle disease (END)
is the most severe form of Newcastle disease and is foreign to the
United States. It is one of the most serious diseases of poultry
throughout the world. The virus also infects and causes disease in wild
birds including parrots and parakeets. Chlamydiosis is a naturally
occurring contagious disease that can be highly fatal in young birds.
Regulations contained in 9 CFR part 82 restrict the interstate movement
of poultry, birds, and other items (such as eggs, carcasses, vehicles,
containers, and coops) to help prevent the spread of END and
chlamydiosis. Disease prevention is the most effective method for
maintaining a healthy animal population and for enhancing APHIS ability
to compete in the world market of animals and animal product trade.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information
through the use of documents attesting to the health status of the
birds or poultry being moved, the number and types of birds or poultry
being moved in a particular shipment, the shipment's point of origin
and designation, and the reason for the interstate movement. These
documents provide useful ``trace back'' information in the event an
infected bird or chicken is discovered and an investigation must be
launched to determine where the bird or chicken originated. The
information provided by these documents is critical to APHIS ability to
prevent the interstate spread of END, which is highly contagious and
capable of causing significant economic harm to the U.S. poultry
industry.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit;
individuals or households; farms; State, local, or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 60.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 35.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0128.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
is responsible for preventing plant pest and noxious weed from entering
into the United States and controlling and eradication plant pests in
the United States. The Plant Protection Act authorizes the Department
to carry out this mission. Before entering the United States, fruits
and vegetables are subject to inspection and disinfection at their port
of first arrival to ensure that no plant pest are inadvertently brought
into the United States. These precautions, along with other
requirements, ensure that these items can be imported into the United
States with minimal risk of
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introducing exotic plant pests such as fruit flies and leek moths.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will use the collected
information on the Phytosanitary Certificate to determine the pest
condition of the shipment at the time of inspection in the foreign
country. The information is also used as a guide to the intensity of
the inspection that is conducted when the shipment arrives. Without the
information, all shipments would need to be inspected very thoroughly,
thereby requiring considerably more time.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; State,
local, or tribal government; individuals or households; farms; not-for-
profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 50.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 501.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Brucellosis in Sheep, Goats, Horses, and Payment of
Indemnity.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0185.
Summary of Collection: 21 U.S.C. 111, 115, 118, authorized the
Secretary of Agriculture to take measures to prevent the introduction
or dissemination of any contagious or communicable disease of animals
or live poultry from a foreign country into the United States or from
one State to another. Disease preventing is the most effective method
for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) ability to compete in exporting
animals and animal products. Brucellosis is a contagious disease that
causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or birth of weak
offspring, reduced milk production, and infertility. It is mainly a
disease of cattle, bison, and swine. Sheep, goats, and horses are also
susceptible, but are rarely infected. There is no economically feasible
treatment for brucellosis in livestock.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information
from the use of official seals and animal identification; indemnity
claims, test records, and permits; and the submission of proof of
destruction documentation and requests for extension of certain
program-related deadlines. The information will provide indemnity to
owners of sheep, goat, or horses destroyed because of brucellosis.
Without the information, it would make it impossible for APHIS to
effectively operate an indemnity program for sheep, goats, and horses
destroyed because of brucellosis.
Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households;
Federal government; State, local and tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 4.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Black Stem Rust; Identification Requirements and Addition of
Rust-Resistant Varieties.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0186.
Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C.
7701-772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or
restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant
products to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United
States or their dissemination within the United States. Black stem rust
is one of the most destructive plant diseases of small grains that are
known to exist in the United States. The disease is caused by a fungus
that reduces the quality and yield of infected wheat, oat, barley, and
rye crops by robbing host plants of food and water.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to
prevent the spread of black stem rust by providing for and requiring
the accurate identification of rust-resistant varieties by inspectors.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
Number of Respondents: 4.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 32.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: NAHMS National Poultry Study 2004.
OMB Control Number: 0579-NEW
Summary of Collection: Collection and dissemination of animal
health and poultry health data and information is mandated by 7 U.S.C.
391, the Animal Industry Act of 1884, which established the precursor
of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary
Services, the Bureau of Animal Industry. The collection, analysis and
dissemination of animal and poultry health information on a national
basis are consistent with the APHIS mission of protecting and improving
American agriculture's productivity and competitiveness. APHIS will be
conducting the National Poultry 2004 Study, which will consist of three
separate questionnaires and administered by Federal Veterinary
technicians. The objectives of the Poultry 2004 Study are to: (1)
Identify and describe the current population density of backyard
poultry flocks around commercial operations within States that account
for a large proportion of U.S. poultry production; (2) assess current
movement and handling practices among small and large producers that
could potentially spread poultry disease; (3) identify common movement,
biosecurity, and cleaning and disinfection practice at live bird
markets; and (4) disseminate information on the benefits of proper
biosecurity techniques to poultry owners.
Need and Use of the Information: The information generated by the
Poultry 2004 Study will be used to identify the potential impact of
backyard poultry on commercial poultry facilities and to determine the
economic consequences of animal disease.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; farms.
Number of Respondents: 3,750.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting; on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,257.
Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-24310 Filed 10-29-04; 8:45 am]
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