[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37322-37323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12778]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 23, 2005.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Poultry and Pork Products Transiting the United States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0145.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
responsible for controlling and eliminating domestic animal diseases 
such as brucellosis and scrapie, as well as preventing the introduction 
of exotic animal diseases such as hog cholera, exotic Newcastle disease 
(END) and other foreign diseases. Disease prevention is the most 
effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and 
enhancing the United States' ability to compete in exporting animals 
and animal products. The regulations under which APHIS conducts disease 
prevention activities are contained in title 9, chapter D, parts 91 
through 99 of the Code of Federal Regulations. APHIS has determined 
that fresh pork and pork products, as well as poultry carcasses, parts 
and products from Mexican States can transit the United States with 
minimal risk of introducing hog cholera or END. Allowing fresh pork and 
pork products as well as poultry carcasses, parts, and products from 
certain Mexican States to transit the United States necessitates the 
use of several information collection activities, which include the 
completion of an import permit application, the placement of serial 
numbered seals on product containers, and the forwarding of a written, 
pre-arrival notification to APHIS port personnel.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
ensure that fresh pork and pork products, as well as poultry carcasses, 
parts, and products transiting the United States from Mexico pose a 
negligible risk of introducing hog

[[Page 37323]]

cholera and END into the United States. APHIS will also collect the 
name, address of the exporter, the origin and destination points of 
entry, the date of transportation, the method and route of shipment, 
the time and date the items are expected to arrive at the port, how 
long the items are expected to be in the United States, the permit 
number of the shipment, and the serial numbers of the seals on the 
shipment containers. If the information is not collected, it would make 
disease incursion event much more likely, with potentially devastating 
affects on the U.S. swine and poultry industries.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farm; 
individual or households; not-for-profit institutions; Federal 
government; State, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 75.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 600.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: ISA Payment of Indemnity.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0192.
    Summary of Collection: Federal regulation contained in 9 CFR 
Subchapter B governs cooperative programs to control and eradicate 
communicable diseases of livestock from the United States. Infectious 
Salmon Anemia (ISA) poses a substantial threat to the economic 
viability and sustainability of salmon aquaculture in the United States 
and abroad. ISA is the clinical disease resulting from infection with 
the ISA virus; signs include hemorrhaging, anemia, and lethargy. The 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will collect 
information using VS Form 1-22 ISA Program Enrollment Form and VS Form 
1-23 All Species Appraisal & Indemnity Claim Form.
    Need and Use of the Information: Each program participant must sign 
an ISA Program Enrollment Form in which they agree to participate fully 
in USDA's and the State of Maine's ISA Program. APHIS will collect the 
owner's name and address, the number of fish for which the owner is 
seeking payment, and the appraised value of each fish. The owner must 
also certify as to whether the fish are subject to a mortgage. Without 
the information it would be impossible for APHIS to launch its program 
to contain and prevent ISA outbreaks in the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,600.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Foot-and-Mouth Disease; Prohibition on Importation of Farm 
Equipment.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0195.
    Summary of Collection: Regulations contained in 9 CFR parts 92 
through 98 prohibits the importation of used farm equipment into the 
United States from regions in which foot-and-mouth disease or 
rinderpest exist, unless the equipment has been stream-cleaned prior to 
export to the United States so that it is free of exposed dirt and 
other particulate matter. Disease prevention is the most effective 
method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability to compete 
in exporting animals and animal products.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
through the use of a certification statement in which the exporter 
states that the cleaning of the equipment has been done. This is 
necessary to help prevent the introduction of food-and-mouth disease 
into the United States. If the information were not collected APHIS 
would be forced to discontinue the importation of any used farm 
equipment from FMD regions, a development that could have a damaging 
financial impact on exporters and importers of this equipment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,000.

Ruth Brown
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-12778 Filed 6-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P