[Federal Register: March 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 48)]
[Notices]
[Page 12438-12439]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr05-22]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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 12438]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 04-138-1]
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 activity to support
the National Animal Health Monitoring System's national Equine 2005
study.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May
13, 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. 04-138-1,
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. 04-138-1.
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 on the Equine 2005
study, contact Mr. Chris Quatrano, Management Analyst, Centers for
Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building
B MS 2E6, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-7107. 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: National Animal Health Monitoring System; Equine 2005 Study.
OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.
Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture is
responsible for protecting the health of our Nation's livestock and
poultry populations by preventing the introduction and interstate
spread of serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating
such diseases from the United States when feasible. In connection with
this mission, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
operates the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which
collects, on a national basis, statistically valid and scientifically
sound data on the prevalence and economic importance of livestock and
poultry disease risk factors.
NAHMS' national studies have evolved into a collaborative industry
and government initiative to help determine the most effective means of
preventing and controlling diseases of livestock. APHIS is the only
agency responsible for collecting national data on livestock health.
Participation in any NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data are
confidential.
NAHMS will initiate a national study titled Equine 2005, consisting
of two components, to collect information on the U.S. equid population.
An event component will take place at equine events such as sales,
shows, and gatherings in six States: California, Colorado, Florida,
Kentucky, New York, and Texas. Up to 60 events in each State will be
surveyed to obtain information regarding the traceability of
participating equids and to determine the health requirements and
documentation required to enter and participate in these events. An on-
farm component will take place in Alabama, California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These 28 States
represent 78 percent of the U.S. horse and pony population and account
for 78.8 percent of the farms with horses and ponies as reported by the
2002 Census of Agriculture. Up to 4,000 farms will be surveyed to
determine health management factors related to the control of equine
infectious diseases and to compare current data to data collected
during the NAHMS Equine '98 study. APHIS will use this information to
determine trends in equine health management relating to infection
control. APHIS will analyze information from this study and prepare
descriptive reports and information sheets that will be disseminated to
animal health officials, equine owners, stakeholders, and academia.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
the information collection activities for the national Equine 2005
study.
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;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used;
[[Page 12439]]
(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, 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 0.9587156 hours per response.
Respondents: Event representatives at equine sales, shows, and
gatherings; and farm owners with five or more equids.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 4,360.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated annual number of responses: 4,360.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,180 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 8th day of March 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4914 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P