[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16516-16517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7010]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-017-1]


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 tuberculosis eradication under 
which owners of dairy cattle in El Paso, Texas, can receive payments 
for their animals and other property and the cessation of operations.

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:
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies)

[[Page 16517]]

to Docket No. 04-017-1, 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. 04-017-1.
     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. 04-017-1'' 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 on the tuberculosis 
eradication regulations and payments to owners of dairy cattle in El 
Paso, Texas, contact Dr. Terry Beals, Senior Staff Veterinarian, 
Eradication and Surveillance Team, National Center for Animal Health 
Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
(301) 734-5467. 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: Tuberculosis Payments to Owners of Dairy Cattle in El Paso, 
Texas.
    OMB Number: 0579-0193.
    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 pests and diseases of livestock within the United States and for 
conducting eradication programs. In connection with this mission, 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) participates 
in the Cooperative State-Federal Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication 
Program, which is a national program to eliminate bovine tuberculosis 
from the United States.
    Federal regulations implementing this program are contained in 9 
CFR part 77. Additionally, the regulations in 9 CFR part 50 provide for 
the payment of indemnity to owners of certain animals destroyed because 
of tuberculosis, in order to encourage destruction of animals that are 
infected with, or at significant risk of being infected with, the 
disease. In part 50, payments are also authorized to owners of dairy 
cattle in El Paso, Texas, for their animals and other property, the 
cessation of operations, and relocation of a dairy plant's equipment.
    The payment program for owners in El Paso, TX, requires the use of 
a number of information collection activities, including an agreement 
to cease operations, the use of metal eartags, movement permits, 
salvage reports, salvage and disposal affidavits, and payment claim 
forms.
    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 1.483 hours per response.
    Respondents: Owners of dairy operations in the El Paso, TX, area; 
owner/operators of livestock markets and slaughtering plants in the El 
Paso, TX, area; cattle purchasers and selling agents; State animal 
health authorities; and accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 95.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 6.210526.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 590.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 875 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. 04-7010 Filed 3-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P