[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 49959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25328]



[[Page 49959]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-089-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Pseudorabies Eradication Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 24, 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. 97-089-1, 
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 97-089-1. 
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 the Pseudorabies 
Eradication Program, contact Dr. Arnold Taft, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 37, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-4916; or e-mail 
A[email protected]. For copies of more detailed information on the 
information collection, contact Mr. Gregg Ramsey, Agency Support 
Service Specialist, at (301) 734-5582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Pseudorabies.
    OMB Number: 0579-0070.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing the 
spread of contagious, infectious, or communicable animal diseases from 
one State to another, and for eradicating such diseases from the United 
States when feasible.
    In connection with this mission, APHIS regulates the interstate 
movement of swine in order to carefully control the movement of swine 
that are infected with or exposed to pseudorabies. The most common 
method of pseudorabies transmission is the movement of infected swine 
from one herd to another.
    Regulating the interstate movement of these animals requires the 
use of certain information gathering activities, including the 
completion of documents attesting to the health status of the swine 
being moved, the number of swine being moved in a particular shipment, 
the shipment's point of origin, and the shipment's destination.
    With this information we are able to carefully monitor the location 
of infected or exposed animals and prevent them from coming into 
contact with healthy animals.
    These documents also provide useful ``traceback'' information in 
the event an infected animal is discovered and an investigation must be 
launched to determine where the animal originated, as well as the 
number and location of other animals with which it may have had contact 
during its interstate movement.
    The information provided by these documents is critical to our 
ability to prevent the interstate spread of pseudorabies, and therefore 
plays a vital role in our Pseudorabies Eradication Program.
    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:
    (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 .0208 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. producers, shippers, State animal protection 
authorities.
    Estimated number of respondents: 30,050.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 2.6689.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 80,200.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,668 hours.
    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 18th day of September 1997.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25328 Filed 9-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P