[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11351-11352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5595]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-023-1]


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 regulations for the interstate movement of 
animals affected with Johne's disease.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
9, 2003.

[[Page 11352]]


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. 03-023-1, 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. 03-023-1. 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. 
03-023-1'' 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 regulations 
for the interstate movement of animals affected with Johne's disease, 
contact Dr. Michael Carter, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center 
for Animal Health Programs, Certification and Control Team, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4914. 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: Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals; Interstate Movement.
    OMB Number: 0579-0148.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the 
United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for, among other 
things, preventing the spread of serious communicable animal diseases 
(such as Johne's disease) from one State to another, and for 
eradicating such diseases from the United States when feasible. Johne's 
disease, also known as paratuberculosis, is caused by Mycobacterium 
paratuberculosis and primarily affects cattle, sheep, goats, and other 
domestic, exotic, and wild ruminants. This disease is a chronic and 
contagious enteritis that results in progressive wasting and eventual 
death. It is nearly always introduced into a healthy herd by an 
infected animal that is not showing symptoms of the disease. The 
regulations in title 9, chapter I, subchapter C, of the Code of Federal 
Regulations govern the interstate movement of animals to prevent the 
dissemination of livestock and poultry diseases in the United States. 
Within subchapter C, part 71 contains general provisions for the 
interstate transportation of animals, poultry, and animal products, 
while part 80 pertains specifically to the interstate movement of 
domestic animals that are positive to an official test for Johne's 
disease.
    Our regulations provide that cattle, sheep, goats, and other 
domestic animals that are positive to an official test for Johne's 
disease may generally be moved interstate only to a recognized 
slaughtering establishment or to an approved livestock facility for 
sale to such an establishment. The animals must bear an official eartag 
and be shipped with an owner-shipper statement.
    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 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 
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 information collection 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 0.20 hours per response.
    Respondents: Herd owners, shippers, State representatives.
    Estimated annual number of respondents : 250.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 250.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 50 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 5th day of March 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-5595 Filed 3-7-03; 8:45 am]
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