[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 122 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36916-36917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3322]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 05-046-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Animal Welfare; Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and Rabbits

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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

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 in support of regulations issued under the Animal Welfare 
Act for the humane treatment and handling of guinea pigs, hamsters, and 
rabbits.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 26, 2005.

[[Page 36917]]


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. 05-046-1, 
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. 05-046-1.
    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 regarding the Animal 
Welfare Act regulations for guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits, contact 
Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7833. 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: Animal Welfare; Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and Rabbits.
    OMB Number: 0579-0092.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) administers regulations and 
standards that have been promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act to 
promote and ensure the humane care and treatment of regulated animals 
under the Act. The regulations in title 9, part 3, subparts B and C, of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) contain specifications for the 
humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of guinea pigs, 
hamsters, and rabbits. The regulations require, among other things, the 
documentation of specified information concerning the transportation of 
these animals.
    The transportation standards for guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits 
require intermediate handlers and carriers to accept only shipping 
enclosures that meet the minimum requirements set forth in the 
regulations (Sec. Sec.  3.36 and 3.61) or that are accompanied by 
documentation signed by the consignor verifying that the shipping 
enclosures comply with the regulations. If guinea pigs, hamsters, or 
rabbits are transported in cargo space that falls below 45 [deg]F (7.2 
C), the regulations specify that the animals must be accompanied by a 
certificate of acclimation signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian.
    In addition, all shipping enclosures must be marked with the words 
``Live Animals'' and have arrows indicating the correct upright 
position of the container. Intermediate handlers and carriers are 
required to attempt to contact the consignee at least once every 6 
hours upon the arrival of any live animals. Documentation of these 
attempts must be recorded by the intermediate handlers and carriers and 
maintained for inspection by APHIS personnel.
    The above reporting and recordkeeping requirements do not mandate 
the use of any official government form.
    The burden generated by APHIS requirements that all shipping 
documents be attached to the container has been cleared by the Office 
of Management (OMB) under OMB control number 0579-0036.
    The reporting and recordkeeping requirements of 9 CFR part 3, 
subparts B and C, are necessary to enforce regulations intended to 
ensure the humane treatment of guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits 
during transportation in commerce.
    We are asking 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 0.11555 hours per response.
    Respondents: Intermediate handlers, carriers, class ``A'' and ``B'' 
dealers (as consignors), USDA-accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,470.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.5306.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,250.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 260 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 21st day of June, 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5-3322 Filed 6-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P