[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 9468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4821]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 38 / Friday, February 26, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9468]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-005-1]


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 Veterinary Accreditation Program.

DATES: We invite you to comment. We will consider all comments that we 
receive by April 27, 1999.

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. 99-005-1, 
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 99-005-1. 
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 regarding the 
Veterinary Accreditation Program, contact Dr. Quita Bowman, Program 
Manager, National Veterinary Accreditation Program, Operational 
Support, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 33, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, 
(301) 734-8093. 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: Veterinary Accreditation Program.
    OMB Number: 0579-0032.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture is 
responsible for preventing the spread of serious communicable animal 
diseases from one State to another, and for eradicating such diseases 
from the United States when feasible.
    However, because APHIS does not have sufficient personnel to 
perform all necessary animal disease prevention work, we rely heavily 
on assistance from veterinarians in the private sector.
    Our Veterinary Accreditation Program authorizes private veterinary 
practitioners to work cooperatively with us, as well as with State 
animal health officials, to carry out regulatory programs that ensure 
the health of the nation's livestock and poultry.
    Operating this important program requires us to engage in a number 
of information gathering activities including:
     Conducting veterinary accreditation orientation and 
training.
     Completing animal health certificates.
     Applying and removing official seals.
     Completing test reports.
     Reviewing applications for veterinary accreditation and 
re-accreditation.
     Recordkeeping.
     Updating information on accredited veterinarians.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the continued use of these information collection activities.
    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 0.23149 hours per response.
    Respondents: Accredited veterinarians, candidates for the 
Veterinary Accreditation Program, and State animal health officials who 
review applications for veterinary accreditation and re-accreditation.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 56,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.054.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 171,024.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 39,590 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 22nd day of February 1999.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-4821 Filed 2-25-99; 8:45 am]
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