[Federal Register: August 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 48517-48518]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au05-13]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 05-064-1]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Animal Welfare
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 the regulations issued under the Animal
Welfare Act governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions,
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
October 17, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either 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. 05-064-1,
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. 05-064-1.
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 on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the
regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions,
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers, contact Dr. Jerry
DePoyster, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7586. 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: Animal Welfare.
OMB Number: 0579-0036.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The regulations in 9 CFR parts 1 through 3 were
promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2131 et
seq.) to ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and
transportation of regulated animals under the Act. The regulations in 9
CFR part 2 require documentation of specified information by dealers,
research institutions, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.
The regulations in 9 CFR part 2 also require that facilities that use
animals for regulated purposes obtain a license or register with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Before being issued a USDA
license, individuals are required to undergo prelicense inspections;
once licensed, a licensee must periodically renew the license.
The Act and regulations are enforced by USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which performs unannounced
inspections of regulated facilities. A significant component of the
inspection process is review of records that must be
[[Page 48518]]
established and maintained by regulated facilities. The information
contained in these records is used by APHIS inspectors to ensure that
dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and
carriers comply with the Act and regulations.
Facilities must make and maintain records that contain official
identification for all dogs and cats and certification of those animals
received from pounds, shelters, and private individuals. These records
are used to ensure that stolen pets are not used for regulated
activities. Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities that acquire
animals from nonlicensed persons are required to have the owners of the
animals sign a certification statement verifying the owner's exemption
from licensing under the Act. Records must also be maintained for
animals other than dogs and cats when the animals are used for purposes
regulated under the Act.
Research facilities must also make and maintain additional records
for animals covered under the Act that are used for teaching, testing,
and experimentation. This information is used by APHIS personnel to
review the research facility's animal care and use program.
APHIS needs the reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained
in 9 CFR part 2 to enforce the Act and regulations. APHIS also uses the
collected information to provide a mandatory annual Animal Welfare
Enforcement report to Congress.
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 proposed information collection 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
proposed collection of information, 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 collection of information on those
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated,
electronic, mechanical, or 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 1.4796408 hours per response.
Respondents: Research facilities, ``A'' and ``B'' dealers,
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 7,305.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 9.1175906.
Estimated annual number of responses: 66,604.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 98,550 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 12th day of August 2005.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16377 Filed 8-17-05; 8:45 am]
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