[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 162 (Monday, August 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51796-51797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19236]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 51796]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-029-1]


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 associated with the export of poultry and poultry hatching 
eggs from the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 22, 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. 04-029-1, 
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. 04-029-1.
     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. 04-029-1'' 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.
    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 certificates 
for exporting poultry and hatching eggs, contact Dr. Ted Williams, 
Technical Trade Services, National Center for Import and Export, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
3400. 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: Certificate for Poultry and Hatching Eggs for Export.
    OMB Number: 0579-0048.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301-
8317), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among other things, collects 
information and conducts inspections to ensure that poultry and 
hatching eggs exported from the United States are free of communicable 
diseases. The export of agricultural commodities, including poultry and 
hatching eggs, is a major business in the United States and contributes 
to a favorable balance of trade. Receiving countries have specific 
health requirements for poultry and hatching eggs exported from the 
United States. Most countries require a certification that our poultry 
and hatching eggs are free of diseases of concern to the receiving 
country. This certification generally must carry the USDA seal and be 
endorsed by an authorized APHIS veterinarian.
    Veterinary Services Form 17-6, Certificate for Poultry and Hatching 
Eggs for Export, is used to meet these requirements.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity 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 
collection of information, 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 collection of information 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 0.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Owners of poultry and hatching egg operations, 
exporters of poultry products, and accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 300.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 70.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 21,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 10,500 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.


[[Page 51797]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of August 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-19236 Filed 8-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P