[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 52 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13394-13395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6594]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-006-1]


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 regulations and standards issued under the 
Animal Welfare Act for guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits.

DATES: We invite you to comment. We will consider all comments that we 
receive by May 17, 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. 99-006-1, 
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 99-006-1. 
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 regulations and 
standards for guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits, 9 CFR, part 3, 
subparts B and C, contact Mr. Stephen Smith, Animal Care Staff Officer, 
Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234, 
(301) 734-7833; or e-mail: [email protected]. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Cheryl 
Groves, APHIS' Agency Support Services Specialist, at (301) 734-5086.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Animal Welfare.
    OMB Number: 0579-0092.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Regulations and standards have been promulgated under the 
Animal Welfare Act (the Act) to promote and ensure the humane care and 
treatment of regulated animals under the Act. Title 9, part 3, subparts 
B and C, of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) address specific care 
and handling regulations for guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits. To 
enforce the Act and regulations, we need to collect information 
concerning the transportation of these animals.
    The regulations for transporting guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits 
require intermediate handlers and carriers to accept shipping 
enclosures only if they meet the minimum requirements set forth in 
Sec. 3.36 of the regulations or if they are accompanied by 
documentation signed by the consignor verifying that the shipping 
enclosures comply with the regulations. If guinea pigs, hamsters, or 
rabbits are transported in cargo space in which the temperature falls 
below 45  deg.F (7.2  deg.C), the regulations specify that the animals 
must be accompanied by a certificate of acclimation signed by a U.S. 
Department of Agriculture-accredited veterinarian.
    In addition, all shipping enclosures must be marked ``Live 
Animals'' and have arrows indicating the correct upright position of 
the container. Intermediate handlers and carriers of any live animals 
are required to attempt to contact the consignee at least once every 6 
hours upon arrival. Intermediate handlers and carriers must document 
their attempts to contact the consignor and must maintain that 
documentation for inspection by Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) personnel.
    The above reporting and recordkeeping requirements do not mandate 
the use of any official government form.
    The burden generated by APHIS requirements that all shipping 
documents be attached to the container has been cleared by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control no. 0579-0036.
    The reporting and recordkeeping requirements of 9 CFR, part 3, 
subparts B & C, are necessary to enforce regulations intended to ensure 
the

[[Page 13395]]

humane treatment of guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits during 
transportation in commerce.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will 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, or 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 .125 hours per response.
    Respondents: Intermediate handlers, carriers, ``A'' and ``B'' 
dealers (as consignors), USDA accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1470.
    Estimated annual numbers of responses per respondent: 1.408.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2070.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 260 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 12th day of March 1999.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-6594 Filed 3-17-99;8:45am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P