[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16515-16516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7009]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-016-1]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an Information Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reinstatement 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 a reinstatement of an information collection in 
support of the domestic pseudorabies accelerated eradication program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

[[Page 16516]]

     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket 
No. 04-016-1, 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. 04-016-1.
     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. 04-016-1'' on the subject 
line.
     Agency Web Site: Go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/cominst.html for a form you can use to 
submit an e-mail comment through the APHIS Web site.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for locating this 
docket and submitting comments.
    Reading Room: 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.
    Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the 
Federal Register and related information, including the names of groups 
and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the domestic 
pseudorabies accelerated eradication program, contact Dr. Adam Grow, 
National Surveillance Coordinator, Eradication and Surveillance Team, 
National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-3752. 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: Pseudorabies Accelerated Eradication Program; Payment of 
Indemnity.
    OMB Number: 0579-0137.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement 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, the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA, established 
an accelerated pseudorabies eradication program, including the payment 
of indemnity, to further pseudorabies eradication efforts in 
cooperation with States and industry and to protect swine not infected 
with pseudorabies from the disease.
    Pseudorabies is a contagious, infectious, and communicable disease 
of livestock, primarily swine. The disease, also known as Aujeszky's 
disease, mad itch, and infectious bulbar paralysis, is caused by a 
herpes virus, and is known to cause reproductive problems, including 
abortion and stillborn death, and death in neonatal pigs, and 
occasional death losses in breeding and finishing hogs.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 85 govern the interstate movement of 
swine and other livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) in order to help 
prevent the spread of pseudorabies. These regulations authorize the 
payment of indemnity to herd owners for the depopulation of swine known 
to be infected with pseudorabies and require the collection of 
information that includes an appraisal and agreement form, a movement 
permit, and a report of net salvage proceeds. Additionally, the swine 
must be moved to slaughter in a means of conveyance sealed with an 
official seal.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 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 0.1954918 hours per response.
    Respondents: Swine herd owners, State animal health authorities, 
and accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,600.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 7.625.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 12,200.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,385 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 25th day of March, 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-7009 Filed 3-29-04; 8:45 am]
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