[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48517-48518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16377]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 05-064-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Animal Welfare

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 in support of the regulations issued under the Animal 
Welfare Act governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 17, 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. 05-064-1, 
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. 05-064-1.
    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 
regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers, contact Dr. Jerry 
DePoyster, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7586. 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.
    OMB Number: 0579-0036.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The regulations in 9 CFR parts 1 through 3 were 
promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2131 et 
seq.) to ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of regulated animals under the Act. The regulations in 9 
CFR part 2 require documentation of specified information by dealers, 
research institutions, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers. 
The regulations in 9 CFR part 2 also require that facilities that use 
animals for regulated purposes obtain a license or register with the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Before being issued a USDA 
license, individuals are required to undergo prelicense inspections; 
once licensed, a licensee must periodically renew the license.
    The Act and regulations are enforced by USDA's Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which performs unannounced 
inspections of regulated facilities. A significant component of the 
inspection process is review of records that must be

[[Page 48518]]

established and maintained by regulated facilities. The information 
contained in these records is used by APHIS inspectors to ensure that 
dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and 
carriers comply with the Act and regulations.
    Facilities must make and maintain records that contain official 
identification for all dogs and cats and certification of those animals 
received from pounds, shelters, and private individuals. These records 
are used to ensure that stolen pets are not used for regulated 
activities. Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities that acquire 
animals from nonlicensed persons are required to have the owners of the 
animals sign a certification statement verifying the owner's exemption 
from licensing under the Act. Records must also be maintained for 
animals other than dogs and cats when the animals are used for purposes 
regulated under the Act.
    Research facilities must also make and maintain additional records 
for animals covered under the Act that are used for teaching, testing, 
and experimentation. This information is used by APHIS personnel to 
review the research facility's animal care and use program.
    APHIS needs the reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained 
in 9 CFR part 2 to enforce the Act and regulations. APHIS also uses the 
collected information to provide a mandatory annual Animal Welfare 
Enforcement report to Congress.
    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 proposed information collection 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 
proposed 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, or 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 1.4796408 hours per response.
    Respondents: Research facilities, ``A'' and ``B'' dealers, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 7,305.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 9.1175906.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 66,604.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 98,550 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 12th day of August 2005.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16377 Filed 8-17-05; 8:45 am]
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