[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 179 (Friday, September 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48457-48458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23496]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 96-065-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Approved information collection extension; 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 a currently approved information 
collection in support of animal disease control programs.


[[Page 48458]]


DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 12, 1996 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of burden estimate, 
ways to minimize the burden (such as the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology), or any other 
aspect of this collection of information to: Docket No. 96-065-1, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River 
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please send an original and 
three copies, and state that your comments refer to Docket 96-065-1. 
Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 
14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing 
to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to 
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the use of VS Form 
10-4, contact Dr. Keith Hand, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National 
Center for Import and Export, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road, Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-7835; or e-mail: 
KH[email protected]. For copies of more detailed information, contact 
Ms. Cheryl Groves, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
734-5086.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Laboratory Specimen Submission.
    OMB Number: 0579-0090.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Three years ago the Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) Control 
Program was implemented in an effort to reduce the number of human SE 
outbreaks and to prevent harm to the egg-type poultry industry. The 
program entailed the use of a number of forms to collect information 
that would enable us to identify SE infected flocks.
    This program, however, has now been transferred to the Food Safety 
and Inspection Service (FSIS). Therefore, APHIS no longer needs OMB 
approval for most of the forms that were being used to conduct this 
program.
    One of the forms, VS Form 10-4, is a standard form that is 
routinely used when specimens (such as blood, milk, tissue, or urine) 
from any animal (including cattle, swine, sheep, horses, or poultry) 
are submitted to our National Veterinary Services Laboratories for 
disease tests. This VS Form 10-4 identifies the herd or flock from 
which the specimens were taken, the purpose for submitting the 
specimens, the type of specimen submitted, and the species of animal 
from which the specimen was taken.
    We are seeking OMB approval to continue the use of this VS Form 10-
4.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
We need this outside input to help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed 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 
proposed 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: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .5 hours per response.
    Respondents: State and Federal veterinarians, accredited 
veterinarians.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.524.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15,149 hours.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information 
collection.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of September 1996.
A. Strating,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-23496 Filed 9-12-96; 8:45 am]
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