[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60635-60636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26787]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-094-1]


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 user fees for processing 
applications and permits to import certain animals and animal products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 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. 03-094-1, 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. 03-094-1. 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. 
03-094-1'' 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 user fee 
regulations for the importation of animals and animal products, contact 
Mrs. Kris Caraher, Section Head, User Fees Section, Financial Systems 
and Services Branch, Financial Management Division, MRPBS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road, Unit 54, Riverdale, MD 20737-1232; (301) 734-5743. 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: Veterinary Services User Fees for Permit Applications.
    OMB Number: 0579-0167.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture charges applicants a fee for 
processing applications for permits to import animals and animal 
products (including byproducts, organisms, vectors, and germ plasm). 
Regulations regarding user fees to reimburse APHIS for processing 
permit applications and for providing other import- and export related 
services for live animals and birds and animal products are contained 
in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 9, part 130. Veterinary 
Services, APHIS, is responsible for reviewing the import applications 
and issuing permits.

[[Page 60636]]

    The user fees vary depending on such factors as the type of 
application or the type of animal or product. In order to determine the 
appropriate fees, Veterinary Services may need to contact applicants 
for additional information.
    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 0.02 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, brokers, and the importing public.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,350.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,350.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 47 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 October, 2003.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26787 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P