[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20516-20517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1862]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 05-016-1]


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 proposed regulations for the payment of 
compensation in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 
the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
20, 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. 05-016-1, 
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. 05-016-1.

    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

[[Page 20517]]

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 concerning the 
proposed regulations for payment of compensation if foot-and-mouth 
disease occurred in the United States, contact Dr. Mark Teachman, 
Senior Staff Veterinarian, Emergency Management Staff, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-8908. 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: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Payment of Indemnity; Update of 
Provisions.
    OMB Number: 0579-0199.
    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 administers regulations at 
9 CFR part 53 that provide for the payment of indemnity to owners of 
animals that are required to be destroyed because of foot-and-mouth 
disease (FMD), pleuropneumonia, rinderpest, exotic Newcastle disease, 
highly pathogenic avian influenza, infectious salmon anemia, spring 
viremia of carp, or any other communicable disease of livestock or 
poultry that in the opinion of the Secretary of Agriculture constitutes 
an emergency and threatens the U.S. livestock or poultry population. 
The regulations authorize payments based on the fair market value of 
the animals destroyed, as well as payments for their destruction and 
disposal. The regulations also authorize payments for materials that 
must be cleaned and disinfected or destroyed because of being 
contaminated by or exposed to disease.
    As a result of a review of part 53 by APHIS, in part due to past 
outbreaks of FMD in the United Kingdom and elsewhere around the world, 
we proposed changes to the regulations to help ensure a successful 
control and eradication program in the event of an outbreak of FMD in 
the United States (see 67 FR 21934-21959, APHIS Docket No. 01-069-1, 
May 1, 2002). The proposed rule would require eligible persons to 
submit claims for compensation resulting from the destruction of 
animals and related expenses using forms approved by APHIS. Claimants 
would also be expected to provide any supporting documentation that 
would assist the Administrator in verifying the quantity and value of 
animals or materials destroyed and the costs of their disposition, and 
the costs of cleaning and disinfection.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
this information collection for an additional 3 years.
    The estimate below shows a minimal burden of 1 hour total because 
we believe that an FMD outbreak in the United States is unlikely. 
Therefore, we currently are not collecting information and do not plan 
to collect information unless an outbreak of FMD occurs. In that event, 
we would review the estimated number of respondents and estimated 
burden based on the number of expected respondents in that situation.
    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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Owners of animals and materials destroyed, other 
claimants incurring costs for which compensation might be sought, and 
program support personnel including accredited veterinarians, State 
animal health officials, and local authorities who would be providing 
assistance in the event of a national animal disease emergency.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1 hour. (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 14th day of April 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5-1862 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P