[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14436-14437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1246]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-141-1]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 14437]]

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 for pork and poultry products 
from Mexico transiting the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
23, 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. 04-141-1, 
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. 04-141-1.
    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 
pork and poultry products transiting the United States, contact Dr. 
Christopher Robinson, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade 
Services Team, National Center for Import and Export, VS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-7837. 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: Pork and Poultry Products From Mexico Transiting the United 
States.
    OMB Number: 0579-0145.
    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 and animal products to prevent the introduction of 
serious pests and diseases of livestock into the United States.
    The regulations for the importation of animals and animal products 
are contained in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.
    The regulations in 9 CFR 94.15 allow fresh (chilled or frozen) pork 
and pork products and poultry carcasses, parts, and products (except 
eggs and egg products) that are not eligible to enter into the United 
States to transit the United States from specified States in Mexico, 
via land ports, for export to another country.
    The regulations set out conditions for the transit movements that 
protect against the introduction of classical swine fever or exotic 
Newcastle disease into the United States.
    These conditions involve the use of several information collection 
activities, including the completion of an import permit application, 
the placement of serially numbered seals on product containers, and the 
forwarding of a pre-arrival notification to U.S. port personnel.
    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;
    (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 0.8 hours per response.
    Respondents: Exporters in Mexico and full-time, salaried 
veterinarians employed by Mexico's Federal animal health protection 
service.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 75.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 750.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 600 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 16th day of March 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5-1246 Filed 3-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P