[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 150 (Friday, August 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45353-45354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15517]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 05-021-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program

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 the State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication 
Program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 4, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either 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. 05-021-1, 
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. 05-021-1.
    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 State-
Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program, contact Dr. Debra Donch, 
Senior Staff Veterinarian, Ruminant Health Programs, National Center 
for Animal Health Programs, VS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 734-5952. 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: State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program.
    OMB Number: 0579-0047.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
responsible for, among other things, administering regulations intended 
to prevent the spread of brucellosis and other animal diseases within 
the United States.
    Brucellosis is a contagious disease that primarily affects cattle, 
bison, and swine. It causes the loss of young through spontaneous 
abortion or birth of weak offspring, reduced milk production, and 
infertility. The continued presence of brucellosis in a herd seriously 
threatens the health of other animals. Brucellosis has caused 
devastating losses to farmers in the United States over the last 
century.
    The State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program, which is a 
national program, is working toward eliminating this serious disease of 
livestock. The program is conducted under the various States' 
authorities supplemented by Federal authorities regulating interstate 
movement of affected animals. Effective screening programs and 
extensive epidemiological investigations are required to locate 
infection and to eradicate the disease.
    Conducting effective brucellosis screening programs and 
epidemiological investigations requires the use of many information 
collection activities, such as applications for tags or tattoos, 
epidemiology report forms, monthly reports of brucellosis eradication 
and program surveillance activities, reports of brucellosis reactors 
slaughtered, and

[[Page 45354]]

permits for interstate movement of animals.
    The information obtained from these activities is used to find 
infected herds and ensure that brucellosis is not spread interstate 
from infected herds. These information collection activities are 
essential in determining the brucellosis status of an area and helping 
herd owners by allowing the timely detection and elimination of a 
serious disease.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 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 0.033519373 hours per response.
    Respondents: Accredited veterinarians, State animal health 
authorities, livestock inspectors, herd owners, and owners/operators of 
livestock markets.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 7,382.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 71.455703.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 527,486.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 17,681 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the average 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 1st day of August 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 05-15517 Filed 8-4-05; 8:45 am]
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