[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 9245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4807]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 02-013-1]


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 the specifications for the humane handling, 
care, treatment, and transportation of marine mammals under the Animal 
Welfare Act regulations.

DATES: We will consider all comments we receive that are postmarked, 
delivered, or e-mailed by April 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery 
or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket 
No. 02-013-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 02-013-1. If you use e-mail, 
address your comment to [email protected]. Your comment must 
be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. 
Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 
02-013-1'' on the subject line.
    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 Animal 
Welfare Act regulations and standards for marine mammals, contact Dr. 
Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7833. 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: Animal Welfare.
    OMB Number: 0579-0115.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal Welfare Act standards and regulations have 
been promulgated to promote and ensure the humane care and treatment of 
regulated animals. The regulations in 9 CFR part 3, subpart E, address 
specifications for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of marine mammals. These specifications require 
facilities to keep certain records and provide certain information that 
are needed to enforce the Animal Welfare Act and the regulations.
    The regulations (9 CFR part 3, subpart E) require facilities to 
complete many information collection activities, such as written 
protocols for cleaning, contingency plans, daily records of animal 
feeding, water quality records, documentation of facility-based 
employee training, plans for any animals kept in isolation, medical 
records, a description of the interactive program, and health 
certificates. These information collection activities do not mandate 
the use of any official government form and are necessary to enforce 
regulations intended to ensure the humane care and treatment of marine 
mammals.
    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 form the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary fo 
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 0.5952 hours per response.
    Respondents: Employees or attendants of USDA licensed/registered 
marine mammal facilities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 3,170.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 8.6208.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 27,328.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 16,265 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 22nd day of February 2002.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-4807 Filed 2-27-02; 8:45 am]
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