[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42960-42961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16279]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 00-002-3]


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 that to allow us to pay indemnity 
for sheep, goats, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 17, 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) to Docket No. 00-002-3, 
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. 00-002-3.
     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. 00-002-3'' 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.
    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 
regulations to help prevent the spread of brucellosis, contact Dr. 
Debra A. Donch, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Animal Health 
Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
(301) 734-6954. 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: Brucellosis in Sheep, Goats, Horses; Payment of Indemnity.
    OMB Number: 0579-0185.
    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 regulates the importation and 
interstate movement of animals and animal products, and conducts 
various other activities to protect the health of our Nation's 
livestock and poultry.
    Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by bacteria of the genus 
Brucella. It affects both animals and humans. In its principal animal 
hosts, it causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or birth of 
weak offspring, reduced milk production, and infertility. There is no 
economically feasible treatment for brucellosis in livestock. 
Brucellosis is mainly a disease of cattle, bison, and swine. Brucella 
abortus affects mainly bovines; B. suis affects mainly swine. Goats, 
sheep, and horses are also susceptible to B. abortus. In horses, the 
disease is known as fistulous withers. A third strain of Brucella, B. 
melitensis, affects mainly goats and sheep.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 51 include an indemnity program for 
sheep, goats, and horses that must be destroyed because of brucellosis. 
This indemnity program, which is similar to our indemnity program for 
cattle and bison, is voluntary and was designed to give producers an 
incentive to cooperate and assist our ongoing program to eradicate 
brucellosis in the United States.
    The indemnity program for the voluntary depopulation of herds of 
goats, flocks of sheep, and mixed herds of goats and sheep affected 
with brucellosis and individual horses infected with brucellosis 
requires the use of a number of information collection activities, 
including the completion of indemnity claims, test records, and 
permits; the use of official seals and animal identification; and the 
submission of proof of destruction and requests for the extension of 
certain program-related deadlines.
    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;

[[Page 42961]]

    (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 0.142857142 hours per response.
    Respondents: Sheep, goat, and horse owners who may be eligible to 
participate in a brucellosis indemnity program; State and accredited 
veterinarians; and slaughter plant operators.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 4.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.75.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 7.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1 hour. (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 13th day of July 2004.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16279 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P