[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15672-15673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7046]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0013]
Notice of Revision and Request for Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; Subtype H5N1
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision and 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 revise an information collection associated with
regulations to prevent the introduction of the H5N1 subtype of highly
pathogenic avian influenza through imported birds, poultry, and
unprocessed bird and poultry products and to request extension of
approval of the information collection.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June
1, 2010.
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-2010-0013) 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-2010-0013, 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-2010-0013.
[[Page 15673]]
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 to
prevent the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza, subtype
H5N1, contact Dr. Bettina Cooper, Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade
Services Team--Animals, NCIE, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-3400; or Dr. Tracye Butler, Assistant
Director, Technical Trade Services Team--Products, NCIE, VS, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-3277. 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: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; Subtype H5N1.
OMB Number: 0579-0245.
Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 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 and interstate movement
of animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into and
dissemination within the United States of livestock diseases and pests.
To carry out this mission, APHIS regulates the importation of animals
and animal products into the United States. The regulations are
contained in title 9, parts 92 through 98, of the Code of Federal
Regulations.
The regulations in 9 CFR parts 93, 94, and 95 govern, among other
things, the importation of certain birds, poultry, and unprocessed bird
and poultry products and byproducts to prevent the introduction of the
H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1).
HPAI H5N1 is an extremely infectious and fatal form of the disease
for poultry. HPAI can strike poultry quickly without any warning signs
of infection and, once established, can spread rapidly from flock to
flock. HPAI viruses can also be spread by manure, equipment, vehicles,
egg flats, crates, and people whose clothing or shoes have come in
contact with the virus. HPAI viruses can remain viable at moderate
temperatures for long periods in the environment and can survive
indefinitely in frozen material. One gram of contaminated manure can
contain enough virus to infect 1 million poultry.
APHIS' regulations prohibit or restrict the importation of
unprocessed bird and poultry products and byproducts from regions that
have reported the presence of the H5N1 subtype of HPAI, and contain
permit and quarantine requirements for U.S. origin pet birds and
performing or theatrical birds and poultry returning to the United
States after being in such regions. The provisions necessitate the use
of several information collection activities, including an Application
to Import Controlled Materials or Transport Organisms and Vectors (VS
Form 16-3), an Application for Import or In-Transit Permit (VS Form 17-
129), a notarized declaration or affirmation, a Pet Bird Owner
Agreement (VS Form 17-8), and notification of signs of disease in a
recently imported bird. We are revising the currently approved
information collection (0579-0245) to include an Import Permit (VS Form
16-6).
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities for 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 0.2935 hours per response.
Respondents: U.S. importers of unprocessed bird and poultry
products from regions where HPAI subtype H5N1 has been reported, and
owners of U.S.-origin pet birds and U.S. performing or theatrical birds
or poultry returning to the United States.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 270.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.0852.
Estimated annual number of responses: 563.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 165.26 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 24\th\ day of March 2010.
Gregory L. Parham
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7046 Filed 3-29-10: 9:46 am]
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