[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 96 (Friday, May 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28020-28021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9551]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0057]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and Poultry 
Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological Animals

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 the importation of animals and poultry, 
animal and poultry products, and animal germplasm.

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

[[Page 28021]]


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-2007-0057 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-
2007-0057, 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-2007-0057.
    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 on an information 
collection associated with the importation of animals and poultry, 
animal and poultry products, and animal germplasm, contact Dr. James 
Davis, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Import and 
Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
(301) 734-0694. 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: Importation of Animals and Poultry, 
Animal and Poultry Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and 
Zoological Animals.
    OMB Number: 0579-0040.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other 
things, to prohibit or restrict the importation of animals, animal 
products, and other articles into the United States to prevent the 
introduction of animal diseases and pests. In connection with this 
mission, APHIS collects pertinent information from persons who import 
animals or poultry, animal or poultry products, or animal germplasm 
into the United States.
    This information includes data such as the origins of the animals 
or animal products to be imported, the health status of the animals or 
the processing methods used to produce animal products to be imported, 
and whether the animals or animal products were temporarily offloaded 
in another country during their transit to the United States. We need 
this information to help ensure that these imports do not introduce 
exotic animal diseases into the United States.
    We use a variety of information collection procedures, devices, and 
forms including, but not limited to: Health certificates, import 
permits, ear tags, leg bands, specimen submission forms, inspection 
reports, cooperative and trust fund agreements, and certification 
statements.
    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 0.41688779 hours per response.
    Respondents: Entities that import animals or poultry, animal or 
poultry products, and animal embryos, germplasm, and semen.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 77,976.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 162.4330306.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 12,665,878.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 528,025 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 11th day of May 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-9551 Filed 5-17-07; 8:45 am]
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