[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27931-27932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12693]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-002-1]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an Expired Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reinstatement 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 a reinstatement of an expired information 
collection that it utilizes in regulating the interstate movement of 
horses that have tested positive for equine infectious anemia.

DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments that we receive by July 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and 
three copies) to: Docket No. 01-002-1, 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. 01-002-1.
    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 regarding regulations 
for the interstate movement of horses that have tested positive for 
equine infectious anemia, contact Dr. Timothy Cordes, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-7709. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. 
Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Communicable Diseases in Horses.
    OMB Number: 0579-0127.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2001.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of an expired information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulates 
the interstate movement of horses that have tested positive for equine 
infectious anemia (EIA) in order to prevent the spread of this disease 
(9 CFR 75.4). Enforcing these regulations requires us to engage in a 
number of information gathering activities that enable us to accurately 
identify and track EIA reactors as they move interstate.
    Specifically, this regulatory program requires the use of an 
official EIA test, a certificate allowing the interstate movement of an 
EIA reactor, and identification of the reactor. The program also 
involves the services of accredited veterinarians, State veterinary 
officials, laboratory/diagnostic/research facility personnel, and 
stockyard personnel, all of whom must engage in various recordkeeping 
and information collection activities.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities in connection with 
our EIA program for 3 years.
    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 help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for 
the proper performance of our agency's functions, 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 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 0.0912 hours per response.
    Respondents: State and Federal veterinarians, accredited 
veterinarians, laboratory/diagnostic/research facility personnel, 
stockyard personnel, animal owners, and exporters.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 10,053.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 107.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,075,003.

[[Page 27932]]

    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 98,055 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the 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 16th day of May 2001.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12693 Filed 5-18-01; 8:45 am]
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