[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 48 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12438-12439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4914]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 48 / Monday, March 14, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 12438]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-138-1]


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 activity to support 
the National Animal Health Monitoring System's national Equine 2005 
study.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
13, 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. 04-138-1, 
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. 04-138-1.
    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 on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Equine 2005 
study, contact Mr. Chris Quatrano, Management Analyst, Centers for 
Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building 
B MS 2E6, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-7107. 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: National Animal Health Monitoring System; Equine 2005 Study.
    OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture is 
responsible for protecting the health of our Nation's livestock and 
poultry populations by preventing the introduction and interstate 
spread of serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating 
such diseases from the United States when feasible. In connection with 
this mission, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
operates the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which 
collects, on a national basis, statistically valid and scientifically 
sound data on the prevalence and economic importance of livestock and 
poultry disease risk factors.
    NAHMS' national studies have evolved into a collaborative industry 
and government initiative to help determine the most effective means of 
preventing and controlling diseases of livestock. APHIS is the only 
agency responsible for collecting national data on livestock health. 
Participation in any NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data are 
confidential.
    NAHMS will initiate a national study titled Equine 2005, consisting 
of two components, to collect information on the U.S. equid population. 
An event component will take place at equine events such as sales, 
shows, and gatherings in six States: California, Colorado, Florida, 
Kentucky, New York, and Texas. Up to 60 events in each State will be 
surveyed to obtain information regarding the traceability of 
participating equids and to determine the health requirements and 
documentation required to enter and participate in these events. An on-
farm component will take place in Alabama, California, Colorado, 
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New 
Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, 
Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These 28 States 
represent 78 percent of the U.S. horse and pony population and account 
for 78.8 percent of the farms with horses and ponies as reported by the 
2002 Census of Agriculture. Up to 4,000 farms will be surveyed to 
determine health management factors related to the control of equine 
infectious diseases and to compare current data to data collected 
during the NAHMS Equine '98 study. APHIS will use this information to 
determine trends in equine health management relating to infection 
control. APHIS will analyze information from this study and prepare 
descriptive reports and information sheets that will be disseminated to 
animal health officials, equine owners, stakeholders, and academia.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the information collection activities for the national Equine 2005 
study.
    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;

[[Page 12439]]

    (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 0.9587156 hours per response.
    Respondents: Event representatives at equine sales, shows, and 
gatherings; and farm owners with five or more equids.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 4,360.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 4,360.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,180 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 8th day of March 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4914 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P