[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 32 (Friday, February 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7594-7595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2786]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0012]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Animal Welfare; Inspection, Licensing, and Procurement of 
Animals

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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

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 Animal Welfare Act regulations for 
inspection, licensing, and procurement of animals.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
17, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://regulations.gov, 
select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency 
drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
APHIS-2007-0012 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-
2007-0012, 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-2007-0012.
    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.

[[Page 7595]]

    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 on Animal Welfare Act 
regulations for inspection, licensing, and procurement of animals, 
contact Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737; (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; Inspection, Licensing, and Procurement of 
Animals.
    OMB Number: 0579-0254.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate standards and 
other requirements governing the humane handling, housing, care, 
treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research 
facilities, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers. The 
Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the responsibility of enforcing 
the AWA to the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service.
    The regulations established under the AWA are contained in title 9 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR), chapter I, subchapter A, 
parts 1, 2, and 3. Part 2 generally provides administrative 
requirements and sets forth institutional responsibilities of regulated 
persons under the AWA, including requirements for the licensing and 
registration of dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities, standards 
for veterinary care, identification of animals, and recordkeeping.
    These requirements include information collection activities for 
prelicense inspections, license applications and renewals, and 
recordkeeping requirements for the acquisition of animals from persons 
not licensed under the AWA. In addition, dealers, exhibitors, and 
research facilities that acquire a dog or cat from an unlicensed or 
unregistered person (and not a pound or shelter) must obtain 
certification from that person that the animals were born and raised on 
their premises and that they are eligible for an exemption from the 
licensing requirements.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years. After approval of the burden associated with this extension 
notice, OMB will combine it with another collection titled ``Animal 
Welfare (OMB number 0579-0036),'' and the Department will retire OMB 
number 0579-0254.
    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 3.1538461 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, and persons 
exempt from licensing or registration under the AWA.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 89.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 0.1460674.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 41 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 February 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-2786 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P