[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65821-65822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26384]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0116]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Standards for Privately Owned Quarantine Facilities for
Ruminants
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 associated with regulations for privately owned quarantine
facilities for ruminants.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
January 5, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the
Docket ID column, select APHIS-2008-0116 to submit or view public
comments and to view supporting and related materials available
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2008-0116, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state
that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0116.
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: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on regulations for
privately owned quarantine facilities for ruminants, contact Dr. James
Davis, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Import and
Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301)
734-8364. For copies of more detailed information on the information
collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Standards for Privately Owned Quarantine Facilities for
Ruminants.
OMB Number: 0579-0232.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (8301 et seq. ),
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United
States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to
prohibit or restrict the importation of animals, animal products, and
other articles into the United States to prevent the introduction of
animal diseases and pests.
The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 govern the importation into the
United States of specified animals and animal products in order to help
prevent the introduction of various animal diseases into the United
States. The regulations in part 93 require, among other things, that
certain animals, as a condition of entry, be quarantined upon arrival
in the United States. APHIS operates animal quarantine facilities and
also authorizes the use of quarantine facilities that are privately
owned and operated for certain animal importations.
The regulations at subpart D of part 93 (9 CFR 93.400 through
93.435) pertain to the importation of ruminants. Ruminants include all
animals that chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats,
deer, antelopes, camels, llamas, and giraffes. Ruminants imported into
the United States must be quarantined upon arrival for at least 30
days, with certain exceptions. Ruminants from Canada and Mexico are not
subject to this quarantine requirement.
Regulations for privately owned quarantine facilities for ruminants
require the use of certain information collection activities, including
applications for facility approval, compliance agreements explaining
the conditions under which the facility must be operated,
certifications that the facility meets all applicable environmental
regulations, requests for variance, and maintenance of certain records
covering quarantine operations.
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 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 2.9481818 hour per response.
Respondents: Owners/operators of privately owned quarantine
facilities for ruminants.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 1.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 55.
Estimated annual number of responses: 55.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 162 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.
[[Page 65822]]
Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of October 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26384 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
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