[Federal Register: April 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 64)]
[Notices]
[Page 15431-15432]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ap09-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0019]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Peer Reviewer's Certification Regarding Conflict of
Interest
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 related to peer review of scientific information
disseminated to the public by the Agency.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June
5, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0019 to submit or view comments and
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0019, 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-2009-0019.
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 APHIS' peer review
process or the peer reviewer's certification regarding conflict of
interest, contact Dr. Natalie Roberts, APHIS Peer Review Officer,
Planning Evaluation and Monitoring, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit
120, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-8937. 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: APHIS Peer Reviewer's Certification Regarding Conflict of
Interest.
OMB Number: 0579-0304.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
protects and promotes U.S. agricultural health, administers the Animal
Welfare Act, and carries out wildlife damage management activities. In
carrying out its mission, APHIS collects, generates, and disseminates a
wide variety of scientific information.
Some of the information APHIS disseminates is ``influential''--that
is, it has a clear and substantial impact on important public policies
or important private sector decisions. A very small portion of APHIS'
scientific information takes the form of ``highly influential
scientific assessments,'' which have a potential impact of more than
$500
[[Page 15432]]
million in any year, or are novel, controversial, precedent-setting, or
of significant interagency interest.
In order to ensure the objectivity and highest level of quality of
such scientific information, APHIS arranges for these documents to be
peer reviewed in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget's
(OMB's) ``Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review,'' which
is available on the Web at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/2005/
011405_peer.pdf.
To ensure the effectiveness and integrity of the peer review
process, APHIS pays careful attention to potential conflicts of
interest when selecting peer reviewers. APHIS has developed a standard
letter to prospective peer reviewers, which, among other things, asks
them to consider whether they may have a conflict of interest related
to review of a specific scientific document and, if no, asks them to
sign a form certifying that they have no conflicting interests.
We are asking OMB to approve our use of this information collection
activity 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 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;
(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 0.25 hours per response.
Respondents: Peer reviewers for agency scientific documents.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 50.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 50.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12.5 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 31st day of March 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-7626 Filed 4-3-09; 8:45 am]
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