[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 30368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8139]



[[Page 30368]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0057]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Tuberculosis Testing of Imported Cattle

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 regulations for tuberculosis testing of 
imported cattle.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
25, 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-2006-0057 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-2006-0057, 
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-2006-0057.
    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 regulations 
for tuberculosis testing of imported animals, contact Dr. Michael 
Dutcher, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Tuberculosis Eradication 
Program, Eradication and Surveillance Team, National Center for Animal 
Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 734-5467. 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: Tuberculosis Testing of Imported Cattle.
    OMB Number: 0579-0224.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
authorized under the Animal Health Protection Act to prohibit or 
restrict the importation of animals to prevent the introduction of 
livestock diseases into the United States.
    Regulations concerning the importation of animals are contained in 
9 CFR part 93. Subpart D of part 93 pertains to the importation of 
ruminants, including cattle.
    The regulations in subpart D include requirements to ensure that 
cattle imported into the United States are free of bovine tuberculosis. 
Among other things, subpart D requires an import permit for cattle from 
Mexico and certain other countries, and requires that the application 
for the import permit list the specific location of all premises that 
the cattle to be imported have been on. Additionally, subpart D 
requires certification regarding the tuberculosis history of the herds 
from which a group of cattle is assembled for export to the United 
States. This information is necessary to allow APHIS to ensure that the 
cattle to be imported are free of tuberculosis, thereby protecting the 
health of U.S. livestock.
    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 2.0 hours per response.
    Respondents: Officials of the national government of the region 
from which the cattle originate and salaried veterinary officials of 
exporting regions.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 300.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 75.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 7,500.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 15,000 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 22nd day of May 2006.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-8139 Filed 5-25-06; 8:45 am]
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