[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 123 (Thursday, June 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38000-38001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16184]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-065-1]


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 domestic tuberculosis eradication program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 25, 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. 03-065-1, 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. 03-065-1. 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. 
03-065-1'' 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 domestic 
tuberculosis eradication program, contact Dr. Michael Gilsdorf, 
Director, Eradication and Surveillance Team, National Center for Animal 
Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 734-6954. 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: Tuberculosis.
    OMB Number: 0579-0146.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
responsible for, among other things, preventing the interstate spread 
of pests and diseases of livestock within the United States and for 
conducting eradication programs. In connection with this mission, 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) participates 
in the Cooperative State-Federal Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication 
Program, which is a national program to eliminate bovine tuberculosis 
from the United States. This program is conducted under various States' 
authorities supplemented by Federal authorities regulating interstate 
movement of affected animals.
    Our tuberculosis regulations in title 9, part 77, of the Code of 
Federal Regulations provide for the assignment of tuberculosis risk 
classifications for State, for the creation of tuberculosis risk status 
zones within the same State, and for the conducting of tests before 
regulated animals are permitted to move interstate. The zone and 
testing requirements enhance the ability of States to move healthy, 
tuberculosis-free cattle, bison, goats, and captive cervids interstate 
as well as the effectiveness of our eradication program.
    The requirements of the tuberculosis regulations necessitate the 
use of several information collection activities that include (1) the 
submission of a formal request for a zone classification change in a 
State; (2) an epidemiological review of reports of all testing for all 
zones within a State within 30 days of testing; (3) the submission of 
an annual report to APHIS in order to qualify for renewal of accredited 
free State or zone status; (4) the completion of a certificate of 
tuberculin test that must accompany certain regulated animals moved 
interstate; (5) the retention for 2 years of any certificates 
documenting the movement of regulated animals into and out of zones; 
and (6) the creation of a tuberculosis herd management plan as a tool 
for eradicating tuberculosis within a State or zone, thus avoiding a 
downgrade in a State's or zone's tuberculosis status.
    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 this information collection. 
We need this outside input to 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 0.291666 hours per response.
    Respondents: State animal health authorities, including State 
veterinarians and designated State tuberculosis epidemiologists.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 210.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 9.6.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,016.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 588 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

[[Page 38001]]

for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of June, 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-16184 Filed 6-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P