[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 36550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17443]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-056-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
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 a currently approved information 
collection in support of regulations to prevent the introduction of 
exotic Newcastle disease in birds and poultry and chlamydiosis in 
poultry.

DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments that we receive by September 10, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 01-
056-1, 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. 01-056-1.
    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 exotic 
Newcastle disease in birds and poultry and chlamydiosis in poultry, 
contact Dr. Joseph Annelli, Chief Staff Veterinarian, Emergency 
Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
(301) 734-8073. 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: Exotic Newcastle Disease in Birds and Poultry; Chlamydiosis 
in Poultry.
    OMB Number: 0579-0116.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing the 
spread of contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases of animals 
and poultry from one State to another, and for eradicating such 
diseases from the United States when feasible.
    In connection with this mission, APHIS regulates the interstate 
movement of certain poultry, birds, and other items from premises and 
areas quarantined because of exotic Newcastle disease and chlamydiosis. 
Restricting movement in this manner enables us to prevent infected or 
exposed poultry or birds or contaminated articles from spreading 
disease.
    Regulating the interstate movement of poultry, birds, and other 
items (such as eggs, carcasses, vehicles, containers, and coops) 
requires the use of certain information gathering activities, including 
the completion of permit applications attesting to the health status of 
the birds or poultry being moved, the number and types of birds or 
poultry being moved in a particular shipment, the shipment's point of 
origin, the shipment's destination, and the reason for the interstate 
movement.
    These documents also provide useful ``traceback'' information in 
the event infected birds or poultry are discovered and an investigation 
must be launched to determine where the birds or poultry originated.
    The information provided by these documents is critical to our 
ability to prevent the interstate spread of exotic Newcastle disease 
and chlamydiosis, which are highly contagious and capable of causing 
significant economic harm to the U.S. poultry industry.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our continued use of this information collection activity for an 
additional 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 .5965 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. producers/shippers and State animal health 
protection authorities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 57.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 57.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 34 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 6th day of July 2001.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-17443 Filed 7-11-01; 8:45 am]
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