[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 136 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43733-43734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17887]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 136 / Friday, July 14, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43733]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 00-053-1]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 of an information collection to gather 
data on the health status of swine by conducting a national on-farm 
study of swine, Swine 2000, in support of the National Animal Health 
Monitoring System.

DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments that we receive by September 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 00-
053-1, 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. 00-053-1.
    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 dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Swine 2000 
activities, contact Ms. Marj Swanson, Management Analyst, Centers for 
Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 555 S. Howes, Fort Collins, 
CO 80521; (970) 490-7978. 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: National Animal Health Monitoring System (Swine 2000).
    OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture is 
responsible for protecting and improving the health, quality, and 
marketability of our nation's animal and poultry populations by 
preventing the spread of contagious, infectious, or communicable animal 
diseases from one State to another and by eradicating such diseases 
from the United States when feasible. In connection with this mission, 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service operates the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which collects, on a national 
basis, statistically valid and scientifically sound data on the 
prevalence and economic importance of livestock and poultry diseases. 
Information from these studies is disseminated and used by livestock 
and poultry producers, consumers, animal health officials, private 
veterinary practitioners, animal industry groups, policymakers, public 
health officials, the media, educational institutions, and others to 
improve agriculture's productivity and competitiveness.
    NAHMS' national studies have evolved into a collaborative industry 
and government initiative. We are the only agency responsible for 
collecting national data on animal and poultry health. Participation in 
any NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data are confidential.
    The Swine 2000 project will identify factors associated with the 
shedding of specific pathogens by swine, describe antimicrobial usage, 
and describe animal health management practices and their relationship 
to swine health. In addition, data collected through our Swine 2000 
project will be used to describe the changes in management practices 
and animal health in swine operations by comparing certain data 
gathered in 1990 and 1995 with data gathered in the Swine 2000 project.
    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 this information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the 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 
information collection, 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 information collection 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 .64577 hours per response.
    Respondents: Industry personnel, private veterinary practitioners, 
company and independent producers, academicians, State veterinary 
medical officers, and State public health officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 17,800.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.03089.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 18,350.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 11,850 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

[[Page 43734]]

for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of July 2000.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 00-17887 Filed 7-13-00; 8:45 am]
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