[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 48 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12440-12441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4916]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-142-1]


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 regulations to prohibit the importation of 
used farm equipment from regions affected with foot-and-mouth disease 
unless the equipment has been steam-cleaned prior to export to the 
United States.

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. 04-142-1, 
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. 04-142-1.
    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 regulations for the 
export of used farm equipment to the United States from regions 
affected with foot-and-mouth disease, contact Dr. Arnaldo Vaquer, 
Senior Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services Team, National 
Center for Import and Export, VS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, 
MD 20737; (301) 734-8074. 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: Importation of Used Farm Equipment 
From Regions Affected With Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
    OMB Number: 0579-0195.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for, among 
other things, regulating the importation into the United States of 
certain animals, animal products, and other articles to prevent the 
introduction of serious animal diseases and pests into the United 
States.
    These regulations are contained in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.
    In part 94, Sec.  94.1 prohibits the importation of used farm 
equipment into the United States from regions in which foot-and-mouth 
disease or rinderpest exists, unless the equipment has been steam-
cleaned prior to export to the United States so that it is free of 
exposed dirt and other particulate matter. Such equipment must be 
accompanied to the United States by an original certificate, signed by 
an authorized official of the national animal health service of the 
exporting region, stating that the farm equipment, after its last use 
and prior to export, was steam-cleaned free of all exposed dirt and 
other particulate matter.
    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 0.20 hours per response.
    Respondents: Exporters of used farm equipment in FMD-affected 
regions, and national animal health service officials in FMD-affected 
regions.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 10,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,000 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 12441]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 8th day of March 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 05-4916 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P