[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25133-25134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6418]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0068]


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

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal 
Actions'' box, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' 
from the agency drop-down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket 
ID column, select APHIS-2006-0068 to submit or view public comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically. 
Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after 
the close of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User 
Tips'' link.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2006-0068, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0068.
    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: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
regulations

[[Page 25134]]

for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain 
animals by dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers, and 
intermediate handlers, 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.
    OMB Number: 0579-0093.
    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 Act and 
regulations are enforced by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS).
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 3, subparts A, D, and E cover dogs 
and cats, nonhuman primates, and marine mammals, respectively. Subparts 
B and C cover rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Subpart F of 9 CFR 
part 3 covers warmblooded animals other than dogs, cats, nonhuman 
primates, marine mammals, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Regulated 
facilities are required to keep certain records and provide specific 
information regarding space, transportation, exercise plan, and 
perimeter fence requirements. We review this information to evaluate 
program compliance.
    The reporting and recordkeeping requirements of 9 CFR part 3, 
subparts A, B, C, D, E, and F do not mandate the use of any official 
government form.
    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 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 
information collection, 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 information collection 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 0.3228688 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, carriers, 
and intermediate handlers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 10,217.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 14.198101.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 145,062.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 46,836 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 24th day of April 2006.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-6418 Filed 4-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P