[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 2109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-734]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 14, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 2109]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-115-1]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
certain land tortoises.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
15, 2004.

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. 03-115-1, 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. 03-115-1. 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. 
03-115-1'' 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 on the regulations 
regarding the interstate movement of certain land tortoises, contact 
Dr. Glen I. Garris, Assistant to the Associate Deputy Administrator, 
Emergency Management, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 734-8073. 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: Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises.
    OMB Number: 0579-0156.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
regulates the importation and interstate movement of certain animals 
and animal products to prevent the introduction into or dissemination 
within the United States of pests and diseases of livestock.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 prohibit the importation of the 
leopard tortoise, the African spurred tortoise, and the Bell's 
hingeback tortoise to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic 
ticks known to be vectors of heartwater disease, an acute, infectious 
disease of cattle and other ruminants. The regulations in 9 CFR part 74 
prohibit the interstate movement of those tortoises that are already in 
the United States unless the tortoises are accompanied by a health 
certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection. The certificate 
must be signed by an APHIS accredited veterinarian and must state that 
the tortoises have been examined by that veterinarian and found free of 
ticks.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these certificates 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 0.08333 hours per response.
    Respondents: APHIS accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 150.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,500.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 125 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 7th day of January, 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-734 Filed 1-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P