[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70215-70216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26592]


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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. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 70215]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-101-1]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 initiate a new information collection associated with 
health certificates for the export of live crustaceans, finfish, 
mollusks, and related products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or 
view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the 
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public 
docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered 
EDOCKET, click on the ``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate this 
document.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-101-1, 
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. 04-101-1.
     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. 04-101-1'' 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 on health certificates 
for the export of live crustaceans, finfish, mollusks, and related 
products, contact Ms. Jill B. Rolland, Fishery Biologist, Certification 
and Control Team, National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-6479. 
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: Health Certificates for Export of Live Crustaceans, Finfish, 
Mollusks, and Related Products.
    OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The export of agricultural commodities, including animals 
and animal products, is a major business in the United States and 
contributes to a favorable balance of trade. The Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) maintains information regarding the import health requirements 
of other countries for animals and animal products exported from the 
United States.
    Many countries that import animals or animal products from the 
United States require a certification that the United States is free of 
certain diseases. These countries may also require the certification 
statement to contain additional declarations regarding the U.S. animals 
or products being exported.
    The regulations governing the export of animals and products from 
the United States are contained in 9 CFR part 91, subchapter D, 
``Exportation and Importation of Animals (Including Poultry) and Animal 
Products,'' and apply to farm-raised aquatic animals and products, as 
well as other livestock and products. These regulations are authorized 
by the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301-8317).
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Fish 
and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Department of the Interior, as well as 
APHIS, have legal authorities and responsibilities related to aquatic 
animal health in the United States. All three agencies have, therefore, 
entered into a memorandum of understanding delineating their respective 
responsibilities in the issuance of health certificates for the export 
of live aquatic animals and animal products.
    As a result of these shared responsibilities, three new health 
certificates have been developed that will bear the logo of all three 
agencies. The certificates can be used by all three agencies for export 
health certifications for live crustaceans, finfish, mollusks, and 
their related products from the United States. In order for the 
agencies to complete these certificates, exporters must provide the 
names of the species being exported from the United States, their age 
and weight, if applicable, whether they are cultured stock or wild 
stock, their place of origin, their country of destination, and the 
date and method of transport. The certificates will be completed by an 
accredited inspector (in the case of FWS or NMFS) or accredited 
veterinarian (in the case of APHIS) and must be signed by either the 
accredited inspector or accredited veterinarian who inspects the 
animals or products prior to their departure from the United States, as 
well as the appropriate Federal official (from either APHIS, FWS, or 
NMFS) who certifies the health status of the shipment being exported.

[[Page 70216]]

    By endorsing the health certificate, these officials are certifying 
that (1) the aquatic animals or products in the consignment have been 
produced in a country, zone, or aquaculture establishment that has been 
subjected to a health surveillance scheme recommended by the Office 
International des Epizooties (the world animal health organization); 
and (2) the country, zone, or aquaculture establishment is officially 
recognized as being free from all of the pathogens causing the diseases 
identified on the specific health certificate being endorsed. (Each of 
the three health certificates lists a variety of diseases, depending on 
whether the certificate is for crustaceans, finfish, or mollusks.)
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity for 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning this 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 0.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Accredited inspectors or accredited veterinarians who 
complete the health certificates and producers who provide information 
for the health certificates to the accredited inspectors or accredited 
veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 100.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 30.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,500 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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of November 2004.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-26592 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P