[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 51636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25372]


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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. 66, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 51636]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-085-1]


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 restrictions related to the importation of 
pork from Mexico.

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

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and 
three copies) to: Docket No. 01-085-1, 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. 01-085-1.
    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 pm., 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 restrictions 
related to the importation of pork from Yucatan and Sonora, Mexico, 
contact Dr. Michael David, Assistant Director, Sanitary International 
Standards Team, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 33, Riverdale, MD 20737-7477, (301) 734-8093. 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: Importation of Pork and Pork Products From Yucatan and 
Sonora, Mexico.
    OMB Number: 0579-0138.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for administering 
regulations to prevent the importation of animal diseases, such as hog 
cholera (also known as classical swine fever), into the United States. 
The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 currently provide for the importation 
of pork and pork products into the United States from Yucatan and 
Sonora, Mexico, under certain conditions. These conditions ensure that 
the pork or pork products pose a negligible risk of introducing hog 
cholera into the United States. The regulations require the use of two 
information collection activities, the completion of a foreign meat 
inspection certificate and the placing of serially numbered seals on 
shipping containers. These information collection activities are 
necessary to ensure that the pork and pork products are derived from 
swine slaughtered at federally inspected slaughter plants and meet 
other conditions of the regulations, and that the shipments have not 
been tampered with en route to the United States.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    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 Agency functions, 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 of this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1.0 hour per response.
    Respondents: Federal animal health authorities in Mexico, and 
personnel in Yucatan and Sonora, Mexico, who operate slaughtering and 
processing plants and who engage in the export of pork to the United 
States.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 4.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 40.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 40 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 3rd day of October 2001.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-25372 Filed 10-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U