[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53805-53806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27425]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-087-1]


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.

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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 approval for additional hours associated with a 
currently approved information collection in support of the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System's Beef '97 and Equine '98 national 
studies.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 15, 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. 97-087-1, 
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 97-087-1. 
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 National Animal 
Health Monitoring System, contact Ms. Marj Swanson, Program Specialist, 
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 555 S. Howes, 
Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80521; (970) 490-7978. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Cheryl 
Jenkins, APHIS'' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-5360.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: National Animal Health Monitoring System (Beef 1997 and 
Equine 1998).
    OMB Number: 0579-0079.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.
    Type of Request: Addendum to increase hours of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Animal Health 
Monitoring System (NAHMS) program of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is to deliver statistically-valid and 
scientifically-sound animal health information to consumers, animal 
health officials, private practitioners, animal industry groups, policy 
makers, public health officials, media, educational institutions, and 
others.
    Information for the NAHMS Equine '98 study will be derived from 
data voluntarily collected on a national basis from people involved in 
the equine (horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules) industry. The 
information collected will be used to estimate risk factors for 
regional and national prevalence of specific pathogens; support the 
industry goal of providing optimal health care for equids by 
determining current practices in health management; provide baseline 
estimates of equine health conditions; provide information on mortality 
and morbidity as it relates to body system categories such as 
respiratory disease, colic, and lameness; and determine the cost of the 
disease.
    Information for the NAHMS Beef '97 study will be derived from data 
voluntarily collected on a national basis from producers in the beef 
cow/calf industry. The information collected is used to identify 
baseline trends in health management practices and disease, determine 
risks for new and emerging animal health issues, and assess the 
economic importance of beef cow/calf health and disease.
    After pretesting the Beef '97 forms, it was determined that the 
actual amount of time needed to complete one of the forms was greater 
than expected and that five new forms were needed to collect additional 
data on breeding, herd management, and biosecurity practices. Eleven 
new forms were identified through the needs assessment phase for Equine 
'98. These forms will be used to collect biological samples and data on 
management practices, biosecurity, general health, and cost of disease. 
The figures below represent the recalculated burden.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the 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

[[Page 53806]]

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: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .5422 hours per response.
    Respondents: Animal agricultural producers, veterinary 
practitioners, and animal related industries.
    Estimated number of respondents: 10,843.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 3.2295.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 35,018.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 18,987 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 October 1997.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27425 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
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