[Federal Register: November 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 219)]
[Notices]
[Page 66835-66836]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12no08-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
November 5, 2008.
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
[[Page 66836]]
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 Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), 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) 720-8958.
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: National Animal Identification System.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0259.
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 our Nation's livestock and poultry. The advent of
increased animal disease outbreaks around the globe over the past
decade, especially the recent BSE-positive cow found in Washington
State, has intensified the public interest in developing a national
animal identification program for the purpose of protecting animal
health. Fundamental to controlling any disease threat, foreign or
domestic, to the Nation's animal resources is to have a system that can
identify individual animals or groups, the premises where they are
located, and the date of entry to each premises. A national animal
identification system is being implemented by APHIS at present on a
voluntary basis. It is intended to identify all livestock, as well as
record their movements over the course of their lifespan.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS goal is to create an
effective, uniform, consistent, and efficient system that when fully
implemented, will allow traces to be completed within 48 hours of
detection of a disease, ensuring rapid containment of the disease.
Successful implementation of the animal identification and tracking
systems will depend on the effective use of three primary information
collection activities: Premises and nonproducer participants
identification records, individual animal identification transaction
records, and group/lot transaction records that will be created and
maintained through various industry and Government collaborative
efforts. Failing to collect the needed information would make it
impossible to conduct a timely traceback of animals potentially exposed
to a disease of concern.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 500,472.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping;
Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 2,832,437.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0264.
Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C.
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to regulate the
importation of plants, plant products, and other articles to prevent
the introduction of injurious plant pests. Regulations contained in
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 319 (Subpart--Fruit
and Vegetables), Sections 319.56 et seq., implement the intent of the
this Act by prohibiting or restricting the importation of certain
fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the
world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of fruit flies and
other injurious plant pests that are new to the United States or not
widely distributed within the United States. These regulations are
enforced by the Plant Protection and quarantine, a program with USDA's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Need and Use of the Information: The use of certain information
collection activities including phytosanitary certificates, fruit fly
monitoring records, and cooperative agreements will be used to allow
the entry of certain fruits and vegetables into the United States.
Without the information all shipments would need to be inspected very
thoroughly, thereby requiring considerably more time and would slow the
clearance of international shipments.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 15.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping;
Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 123.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-26743 Filed 11-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P