[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38356-38357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10475]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0013]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Electronic 
Animal Disease and Reporting System)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice 
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request a new information collection regarding data on meat, poultry, 
exotic animal, and rabbit slaughter for the Agency's electronic Animal 
Disease Reporting System.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before September 
5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
information collection request. Comments may be submitted by mail, 
including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand- or courier-delivered 
items. Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 Cotton 
Annex, Washington, DC 20250. All submissions received must include the 
Agency name and docket number FSIS-2006-0013.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice, as well as 
research and background information used by FSIS in developing this 
document, will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket 
Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The comments also will 
be posted on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_Notices_Index/index.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork 
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 
300 12th Street, SW, Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-
0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 38357]]

    Title: Electronic Animal Disease Reporting System.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS 
protect the public by ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe, 
wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS also 
inspects exotic animals and rabbits under the authority of the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C 1621 et seq.).
    FSIS is requesting a new information collection addressing 
paperwork requirements regarding the collection of information 
concerning meat and poultry slaughter for the Agency's electronic 
Animal Disease Reporting System (eADRS).
    In accordance with 9 CFR part 320, 381.175, 381.180, 303.1 (b)(3), 
352.15, and 354.91, establishments that slaughter meat, poultry, exotic 
animals, and rabbits are required to maintain certain records regarding 
their business operations and to report this information to the Agency 
as required.
    For eADRS, establishments will report (by shift) slaughter totals 
in number of heads and weight by animal category.
    FSIS will use this information to plan inspection activities, to 
develop sampling plans for testing, to target establishments for 
testing, for Agency budget planning, and in its reports to Congress. 
FSIS will also provide this data to other USDA agencies--the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 
and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA), for their publications and other functions.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 
20 hours per annum to collect and submit this information to FSIS.
    Respondents: Establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 1,159.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 600.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 23,180 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-5627, (202)720-0345.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (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. Comments may be sent to both John O'Connell, 
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at the address provided above, and 
the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the 
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line 
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_Notices_Index/index.asp. FSIS also will make copies 
of this Federal Register publication available through the FSIS 
Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS 
policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS 
public meetings, recalls, and other types of information that could 
affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. 
The update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail subscription 
service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer 
interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, 
and other individuals who have requested to be included. The update 
also is available on the FSIS web page. Through Listserv and the web 
page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience.
    In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which 
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news 
and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to 
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers 
can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to 
password protect their account.

    Done at Washington, DC, on June 29, 2006.
Barbara J. Masters,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E6-10475 Filed 7-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P