[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48209-48210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24391]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 178 / Monday, September 15, 1997 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-074-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

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 in support of the Acute Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory 
Syndrome study.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 14, 1997 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of burden estimate, 
ways to minimize the burden (such as through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology), or any 
other aspect of this collection of information to: Docket No. 97-074-1, 
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 97-074-1. 
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: For information regarding Porcine Reproductive 
and Respiratory Syndrome, contact Dr. Larry White, Veterinary Medical 
Officer, Emergency Programs Staff, VS, APHIS, 555 S. Howes, Suite 300, 
Fort Collins, CO 80521, (970) 490-7824. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information collection, contact Ms. Cheryl Jenkins, 
Agency Support Service Specialist, at (301) 734-5360.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Acute Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
    OMB Number: 0579-0125.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services, is to protect and improve the 
health, quality, and marketability of our Nation's animals and animal 
products by preventing, controlling, and monitoring animal diseases. 
Veterinary Services' Emergency Programs is charged with coordinating 
APHIS' roles and responsibilities in planning for and responding to 
emerging or exotic animal diseases.
    During the last 12-to-15 months, a severe form of Porcine 
Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) has appeared in the United 
States. It is not known if this is a new emerging pathogen, a more 
virulent strain of the conventional PRRS virus, or if risk factors have 
changed resulting in a more severe clinical expression of conventional 
PRRS virus. Based on information reported by the American Association 
of Swine Practitioners (AASP) and the National Pork Producers Council 
(NPPC), approximately 100 herds in 7 States have experienced an episode 
prior to January 1997, of what APHIS and the swine industry are calling 
acute PRRS.
    Conventional PRRS is an Office International des Epizooties (OIE) 
List B disease and was first described in the United States in 1987 and 
reported shortly thereafter in Europe and Asia. Data from the APHIS, 
Veterinary Services, National Animal Health Monitoring Systems' Swine 
'95 study showed that 68.5 percent of hog operations had conventional 
PRRS virus on the premises.
    When acute PRRS strikes a producer's herd, the herd experiences 
immediate and severe production losses. Losses due to abortion as great 
as 25 percent of the annual pig crop have been reported, with an 
associated loss of adult breeding animals as great as 5 percent, and 
preweaning piglet mortality up to 75 percent. Should acute PRRS reach 
the same level of herd infection as conventional PRRS, producer surplus 
could decrease by $583 million per year. Consumer surplus could 
decrease $121 million per year. The price of pork could increase by 
$15.93 per metric ton. The hog and pork export market is severely 
threatened by the existence and spread of this undefined pathogen.
    Cases of acute PRRS are being reported to Veterinary Services' 
Emergency Programs Staff. It is imperative that data on management 
practices and environmental conditions, along with blood and tissue 
samples, continue to be collected and analyzed during the seasonal 
episodes. Analysis could identify the transmission mechanism and risk 
factors and provide a means to prevent disease spread to other herds 
and States. Information provided by this study would aid in the early 
control or eradication of acute PRRS and could save millions of dollars 
of lost production and increased regulatory costs associated with a 
later control or eradication program.
    Samples from herds experiencing high abortion rates will be 
submitted by private practitioners to seven participating diagnostic 
laboratories. If the herd for which the samples were submitted 
qualifies for the study, the diagnostic laboratory will contact the 
submitting private practitioner. If the private practitioner agrees to 
participate in the study, he or she will contact the producer. If the 
producer agrees to participate, the private practitioner and APHIS 
veterinary medical officer will visit the premises to collect 
additional data. If the private practitioner or producer chooses not to 
participate, no further contact will be made.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the continued use of this information collection activity.
    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:

[[Page 48210]]

    (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: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1.78 hours per response.
    Respondents: Swine producers, veterinary practitioners, State and 
private diagnostic laboratories, and swine-related industries.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 268.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 2.47.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 662.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,179 hours. (Due to 
rounding, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the average 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 9th day of September 1997.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24391 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P