[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18944-18945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9407]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-039-1]


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

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
16, 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. 03-039-1, 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. 03-039-1. If you

[[Page 18945]]

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. 03-039-1'' 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 facilities, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers, 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: 0579-0093.
    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 Act and regulations are 
enforced by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 3, subparts A, D, and E cover dogs 
and cats, nonhuman primates, and marine mammals, respectively. Subpart 
F of 9 CFR part 3 covers warmblooded animals other than dogs, cats, 
nonhuman primates, marine mammals, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. 
Regulated facilities are required to keep certain records and provide 
specific information regarding APHIS' space, transportation, exercise 
plan, and perimeter fence requirements. We review this information to 
evaluate program compliance.
    The reporting and recordkeeping requirements of 9 CFR part 3, 
subparts A, D, E, and F do not mandate the use of any official 
government form.
    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 response.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.48266615 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, carriers, 
and intermediate handlers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 8,190.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 8.833211233.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 72,344.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 34918 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 11th day of April 2003.
Bobby R. Acord,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-9407 Filed 4-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-M