[Federal Register: December 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 232)]
[Notices]
[Page 70215-70216]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03de04-17]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 70215]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 04-101-1]
Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: New 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 initiate a new information collection associated with
health certificates for the export of live crustaceans, finfish,
mollusks, and related products.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
February 1, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public
docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered
EDOCKET, click on the ``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate this
document.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-101-1,
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. 04-101-1.
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. 04-101-1'' 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 on health certificates
for the export of live crustaceans, finfish, mollusks, and related
products, contact Ms. Jill B. Rolland, Fishery Biologist, Certification
and Control Team, National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-6479.
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: Health Certificates for Export of Live Crustaceans, Finfish,
Mollusks, and Related Products.
OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.
Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
Abstract: The export of agricultural commodities, including animals
and animal products, is a major business in the United States and
contributes to a favorable balance of trade. The Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) maintains information regarding the import health requirements
of other countries for animals and animal products exported from the
United States.
Many countries that import animals or animal products from the
United States require a certification that the United States is free of
certain diseases. These countries may also require the certification
statement to contain additional declarations regarding the U.S. animals
or products being exported.
The regulations governing the export of animals and products from
the United States are contained in 9 CFR part 91, subchapter D,
``Exportation and Importation of Animals (Including Poultry) and Animal
Products,'' and apply to farm-raised aquatic animals and products, as
well as other livestock and products. These regulations are authorized
by the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301-8317).
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Fish
and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Department of the Interior, as well as
APHIS, have legal authorities and responsibilities related to aquatic
animal health in the United States. All three agencies have, therefore,
entered into a memorandum of understanding delineating their respective
responsibilities in the issuance of health certificates for the export
of live aquatic animals and animal products.
As a result of these shared responsibilities, three new health
certificates have been developed that will bear the logo of all three
agencies. The certificates can be used by all three agencies for export
health certifications for live crustaceans, finfish, mollusks, and
their related products from the United States. In order for the
agencies to complete these certificates, exporters must provide the
names of the species being exported from the United States, their age
and weight, if applicable, whether they are cultured stock or wild
stock, their place of origin, their country of destination, and the
date and method of transport. The certificates will be completed by an
accredited inspector (in the case of FWS or NMFS) or accredited
veterinarian (in the case of APHIS) and must be signed by either the
accredited inspector or accredited veterinarian who inspects the
animals or products prior to their departure from the United States, as
well as the appropriate Federal official (from either APHIS, FWS, or
NMFS) who certifies the health status of the shipment being exported.
[[Page 70216]]
By endorsing the health certificate, these officials are certifying
that (1) the aquatic animals or products in the consignment have been
produced in a country, zone, or aquaculture establishment that has been
subjected to a health surveillance scheme recommended by the Office
International des Epizooties (the world animal health organization);
and (2) the country, zone, or aquaculture establishment is officially
recognized as being free from all of the pathogens causing the diseases
identified on the specific health certificate being endorsed. (Each of
the three health certificates lists a variety of diseases, depending on
whether the certificate is for crustaceans, finfish, or mollusks.)
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of this information collection activity for 3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public
(as well as affected agencies) concerning this 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;
(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 0.5 hours per response.
Respondents: Accredited inspectors or accredited veterinarians who
complete the health certificates and producers who provide information
for the health certificates to the accredited inspectors or accredited
veterinarians.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 100.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 30.
Estimated annual number of responses: 3,000.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,500 hours. (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 24th day of November 2004.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-26592 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P