[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9632-9633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4743]


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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. 68, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9632]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-025-1]


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 regulations issued under the Animal 
Welfare Act governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
29, 2003.

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. 03-025-1, 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. 03-025-1. 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. 
03-025-1'' 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 
regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers, contact Dr. Jerry 
DePoyster, 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: 0579-0036.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The regulations in 9 CFR parts 1 through 3 were 
promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2131 et 
seq.) to ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of regulated animals under the Act. The regulations in 9 
CFR part 2 require documentation of specified information by dealers, 
research institutions, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers. 
The regulations in 9 CFR part 2 also require that facilities that use 
animals for regulated purposes obtain a license or register with the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Before being issued a USDA 
license, individuals are required to undergo prelicense inspections; 
once licensed, a licensee must periodically renew the license.
    The Act and regulations are enforced by USDA's Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which performs unannounced 
inspections of regulated facilities. A significant component of the 
inspection process is review of records that must be established and 
maintained by regulated facilities. The information contained in these 
records is used by APHIS inspectors to ensure that dealers, research 
facilities, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and carriers comply with 
the Act and regulations.
    Facilities must make and maintain records that contain official 
identification for all dogs and cats and certification of those animals 
received from pounds, shelters, and private individuals. These records 
are used to ensure that stolen pets are not used for regulated 
activities. Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities that acquire 
animals from nonlicensed persons are required to have the owners of the 
animals sign a certification statement verifying the owner's exemption 
from licensing under the Act. Records must also be maintained for 
animals other than dogs and cats when the animals are used for purposes 
regulated under the Act.
    Research facilities must also make and maintain additional records 
for animals covered under the Act that are used for teaching, testing, 
and experimentation. This information is used by APHIS personnel to 
review the research facility's animal care and use program.
    APHIS needs the reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained 
in 9 CFR part 2 to enforce the Act and regulations. APHIS also uses the 
collected information to provide a mandatory annual Animal Welfare 
Enforcement report to Congress.
    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 information collection 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 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;

[[Page 9633]]

    (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, or 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 1.480327 hours per response.
    Respondents: Research facilities, ``A'' and ``B'' dealers, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 7,288.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 9.13007.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 66,540.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 98,501 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 25th day of February 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-4743 Filed 2-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P