[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 51 (Friday, March 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12592-12593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4824]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0034]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises

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 the interstate movement of 
certain land tortoises.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
15, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.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-2007-0034 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-2007-0034, 
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-2007-0034.
    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 12593]]

    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 the regulations for 
the interstate movement of certain land tortoises, contact Dr. Peter 
Merrill, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Import and 
Export, VS, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-
0649. 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: Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises.
    OMB Number: 0579-0156.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
regulates the importation and interstate movement of certain animals 
and animal products to prevent the introduction into or dissemination 
within the United States of pests and diseases of livestock.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 prohibit the importation of the 
leopard tortoise, the African spurred tortoise, and the Bell's 
hingeback tortoise to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic 
ticks known to be vectors of heartwater disease, an acute, infectious 
disease of cattle and other ruminants. The regulations in 9 CFR part 74 
prohibit the interstate movement of those tortoises that are already in 
the United States unless the tortoises are accompanied by a health 
certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection. The certificate 
must be signed by an APHIS accredited veterinarian and must state that 
the tortoises have been examined by that veterinarian and found free of 
ticks.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this certificate 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 0.083 hours per response.
    Respondents: APHIS accredited veterinarians, U.S. tortoise 
breeders, and members of tortoise adoption organizations.
    Estimated annual number of respondents : 150.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 249 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 March 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-4824 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am]
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