[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41997-41998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21038]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-075-1]


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 an extension of approval of an information 
collection in support of the Application for Inspection and 
Certification of Animal Byproducts.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 5, 1998 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. 98-075-1, 
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 No. 98-075-
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 Application for 
Inspection and Certification of Animal Byproducts, contact Dr. John 
Gray, Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Medical 
Office, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 129, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, 
(301) 734-7633; or e-mail [email protected]. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Celeste 
Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Application for Inspection and Certification of Animal 
Byproducts.
    OMB Number: 0579-0008.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: U.S. exporters who wish to export certain animal 
byproducts to other countries must, in some instances, furnish the 
importing country with certificates that have been issued or endorsed 
by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service, Veterinary Services (VS). These certificates attest to the 
class and quality of these products, and also attest that the products 
have been processed according to the conditions and requirements of the 
importing country. VS Form 16-24 is one such certificate.
    The information requested on VS Form 16-24 is provided by the 
applicant and notifies us that the applicant desires to have us verify 
the processing of the product. After verifying the processing 
technique, we certify (on VS Form 16-24) that the product was processed 
according to the conditions and requirements of the importing country. 
Without this certification, the importing country would not accept the 
product, and the applicant would be unable to conduct business with 
that country.
    The use of VS Form 16-24 has no impact on animal disease prevention 
or eradication activities in the United States. The form was developed 
strictly in response to the importation requirements of other 
countries.
    The use of VS Form 16-24 provides ample space for the applicant to 
detail the processing technique used to make the product eligible to 
enter the importing country. The form also serves as the written 
agreement under which the applicant (the U.S. exporter) pays for the 
services we render in connection

[[Page 41998]]

with certifying that the product meets certain conditions required by 
the importing country.
    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: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .5 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. exporters of animal byproducts.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 20.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 10 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 3rd day of August 1998.
Joan M. Arnoldi,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21038 Filed 8-5-98; 8:45 am]
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