[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 48 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11647-11648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5449]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Information Collection To Be Submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act; Aquatic Animal Health Inspection Requests

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will submit the collection 
of information listed below to OMB for approval under the provisions of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. A description of the information 
collection requirement is included in this notice. If you wish to 
obtain copies of the proposed information collection requirement, 
related forms, or explanatory material, contact the Service Information 
Collection Officer at the address listed below.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 10, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the requirement to Anissa Craghead,

[[Page 11648]]

Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, MS 222-ARLSQ, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203; 
(703) 358-2269 (fax); or [email protected] (e-mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the information 
collection request, explanatory information, or related forms, contact 
Anissa Craghead by phone at (703) 358-2445 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), require that interested 
parties and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see CFR 
1320.8(d)). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, or the Service) 
plans to submit a request to OMB for approval of a collection of 
information related to fish health evaluations. We are requesting a 3-
year term of approval for these collection activities.
    Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.
    The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f) requires the 
Department of the Interior to take steps ``required for the 
development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of 
fishery resources.'' In addition, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531-1544), the Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-
666c), and the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757a-757g) 
each authorize the Department of the Interior to enter into cooperative 
agreements with stakeholders to protect and conserve fishery resources.
    Aquatic animal health data collected on both hatchery-raised and 
wild animals is essential to making good management decisions. The data 
allows Service and other managers and biologists to determine areas in 
the environment where aquatic animal pathogens pose a high risk to 
aquatic animal resources. The information is also used to develop 
alternative management techniques to help prevent the potential 
negative impacts of aquatic animal pathogens on animals reintroduced 
into the environment. Similarly, the determination of health status of 
wild populations and/or hatchery-raised populations is essential to 
determining appropriate stocking locations. Health inspections of 
aquatic animals, prior to movement to or from hatchery facilities, 
further allow Service managers and biologists to prevent the 
introduction of pathogenic organisms to areas free of such organisms, 
thereby helping to ensure the health and well-being of our aquatic 
animal resources.
    We have conducted aquatic animal health inspections for over 25 
years and wild fish health surveys for over 5 years. In order to 
effectively carry out these investigations, it is essential that we 
gather information on the animals being tested and the samples taken 
from that group of animals, which are tracked throughout the process. 
To gather this information, we have used a National Wild Fish Health 
Survey Submission form and an Aquatic Animal Health Inspection Request 
form. These forms are completed by our stakeholders and partners when 
submitting samples for aquatic animal health evaluations. These forms 
identify the source of the samples submitted and allow laboratory 
personnel to identify and track the samples and to provide accurate 
results. The forms that we use to collect this information were not 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). We are 
initiating the process to request OMB approval of these forms through 
this publication and to request public comment on this information 
collection.
    This collection helped, and would help, us gather information on 
the source and identity of samples submitted for aquatic animal health 
investigations. Optional data requested on the National Wild Fish 
Health Survey form can also be used to research the epidemiology of 
various health issues and improve managers' and biologists' ability to 
make informed decisions with regard to resource management as it 
relates to aquatic animal health. The information collection is 
voluntary; it is conducted only after an individual requests that the 
Service carry out an aquatic animal health investigation.
    We used, and would use, two forms to collect this information. They 
are described below.
    Title: National Wild Fish Health Survey--Submission Form.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-xxxx.
    Form number: 3-2277.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, as requested by the 
submitting individual or entity.
    Description of Respondents: State resource agencies, conservation 
groups, and other individuals seeking aquatic animal health 
investigations on samples obtained from the wild.
    Total Annual Responses: Approximately 1,000 (estimate based on 
previous collection activities).
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 250 hours. We estimate the reporting 
burden at fifteen minutes for each of the total 1,000 submissions, or 
approximately 250 hours total.

    Title: Aquatic Animal Health Inspection Request.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-xxxx.
    Form number: 3-225.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, as requested by the 
submitting individual or entity.
    Description of Respondents: State resource agencies and other 
individuals seeking aquatic animal health investigations on samples 
obtained from captive animals.
    Total Annual Responses: Approximately 25 (estimate based on 
previous collection activities).
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 4 hours. We estimate the reporting 
burden at ten minutes for each of the total 25 submissions, or 
approximately 4 hours total.
    We invite comments on this proposed information collection on the 
following: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of our 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (3) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection on 
respondents.

    Dated: March 1, 2004.
Anissa Craghead,
Information Collection Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5449 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
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