[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37086-37087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17446]


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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. 131 / Friday, July 9, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 37086]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-041-1]


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 importation of animals and poultry, animal 
and poultry products, and animal germplasm.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 7, 1999, 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to comment 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. 
Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 99-041-1, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River 
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
    Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 99-041-1.
    You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our 
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS rules, are available on the Internet at http://
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
regulations for the importation of animals and poultry, animal products 
and poultry products, and animal germplasm, contact Dr. Gary Colgrove, 
Chief Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Import and Export (NCIE), 
VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 
734-8364; or e-mail: [email protected]. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Cheryl 
Groves, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-5086.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and Poultry 
Products, and Certain Animal Embryos.
    OMB Number: 0579-0040.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing the 
introduction of exotic animal diseases into the United States and for 
rapidly identifying, containing, and eradicating these diseases when 
outbreaks occur. To fulfill this mission, we must collect pertinent 
information from those individuals who import animals or poultry, 
animal or poultry products, or animal germplasm into the United States.
    This information includes important data such as the origins of the 
animals or animal products to be imported, the health status of the 
animals or the processing methods used to produce the animal products 
to be imported, and whether the animals or animal products were 
temporarily offloaded in another country during their transit to the 
United States. This information helps us to ensure that these imports 
pose no more than a negligible risk of introducing exotic animal 
diseases into the United States.
    Acquiring this information entails the use of a variety of 
information collection procedures, devices, and forms including, but 
not limited to: Health certificates, import permits, ear tags, leg 
bands, specimen submission forms, inspection reports, cooperative and 
trust fund agreements, and certification statements.
    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 this information collection 
activity. These comments will:
    (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 0.25304 hours per response.
    Respondents: Entities that import animals or poultry, animal or 
poultry products, or animal germplasm into the United States.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 107,849.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 23.5245.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,537,098.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 64,200 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.)

[[Page 37087]]

    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 2nd day of July 1999.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-17446 Filed 7-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P