[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56267-56268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27934]


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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. 216 / Wednesday, November 7, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 56267]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-076-1]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an 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 information collection in 
support of the Foreign Animal Disease Surveillance Program.

DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments we receive that are postmarked by January 7, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and 
three copies) to: Docket No. 01-076-1, 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. 01-076-1.
    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 the Foreign 
Animal Disease Surveillance Program, contact Dr. Aida Boghossian, 
Senior Staff Veterinarian, Emergency Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (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: Foreign Animal Disease/Emerging Disease Investigation (FAD/
EDI) Database.
    OMB Number: 0579-0071.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of an information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
responsible for administering regulations intended to prevent foreign 
diseases of livestock or poultry from being introduced into the United 
States, for conducting a surveillance program for the early detection 
of such foreign animal diseases, and for eradicating such foreign 
animal diseases if they are detected.
    Through our Foreign Animal Disease Surveillance Program, the 
Emergency Programs division of Veterinary Services, APHIS, compiles 
essential epidemiological and diagnostic data that are used to define 
foreign animal diseases and their risk factors. When a potential 
foreign animal disease incident is reported, APHIS dispatches a foreign 
animal disease veterinary diagnostician to the site to conduct an 
investigation.
    The diagnostician obtains vital epidemiologic data by conducting 
field investigations, including sample collection, and by interviewing 
the owner or manager of the premises being investigated.
    These important data include such items as the number of sick or 
dead animals on the premises, the results of necropsy examinations, 
vaccination information on the animals in the flock or herd, the level 
of biosecurity practices at the site, whether any animals were recently 
moved out of the herd or flock, whether any new animals were recently 
introduced into the herd or flock, and detailed geographic data 
concerning premises location.
    The diagnostician records this information on VS Form 12-27. 
Information from this form is then entered into our Foreign Animal 
Disease/Emerging Disease Investigation database.
    VS Form 12-27 is used for both task force emergency disease 
investigations and all suspect foreign animal disease investigations. 
After laboratory confirmation of a specific foreign animal disease, the 
information collected on the form ensures prompt attention and followup 
by a disease eradication specialist.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collective activity for 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 functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Owners and operators of livestock and poultry 
producing operations, State personnel who assist with information 
collection.
    Estimated number of respondents: 535.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 2.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,070.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,070 hours. (Due to

[[Page 56268]]

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 1st day of November 2001.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-27934 Filed 11-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U