[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43708-43709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18780]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-071-1]


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 animal disease surveillance programs.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 22, 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. 03-071-1, 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. 03-071-1. 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. 
03-071-1'' 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

[[Page 43709]]

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 use of 
Veterinary Services (VS) Form 10-4, contact Ms. Connie J. Osmundson, 
Financial Analyst, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, VS, 
APHIS, USDA, 1800 Dayton Road, Ames, IA 50010; (515) 663-7571. 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: Specimen Submission.
    OMB Number: 0579-0090.
    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 animal diseases and for eradicating such diseases from the United 
States when feasible.
    Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a 
healthy animal population and enhancing international trade of animals 
and animal products. The Veterinary Services (VS) program of USDA's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for carrying 
out this disease prevention mission.
    Disease prevention is accomplished with an effective disease 
surveillance program, which is conducted by VS. The VS Form 10-4 and 
its supplemental sheet (VS Form 10-4A) are critical components of our 
disease surveillance mission. They are routinely used whenever 
specimens (such as blood, milk, tissue, or urine) from any animal 
(including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, and poultry) are 
submitted to our National Veterinary Services Laboratories for disease 
testing.
    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 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: State veterinary officials, accredited veterinarians, 
animal health technicians and other personnel who are qualified to 
collect and submit specimens for laboratory analysis, and herd owners.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 12,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 36,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 9,000 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 17th day of July 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-18780 Filed 7-23-03; 8:45 am]
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