[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 134 (Friday, July 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38553-38554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13686]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0082]


Notice of Request for Revision and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Pseudorabies

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision and 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 a revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with regulations for the Pseudorabies 
Eradication Program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 11, 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-2007-0082 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-
2007-0082, 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-2007-0082.
    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 an 
information collection associated with regulations for the Pseudorabies 
Eradication Program, contact Dr. John Korslund, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Aquaculture, Swine, Equine, and Poultry Programs, NCAHP, 
VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-
6188. 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: Pseudorabies.
    OMB Number: 0579-0070.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authority 
for, among other things, preventing the interstate spread of pests and 
diseases of livestock within the United States and for conducting 
eradication programs. In connection with this mission, the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA, regulates the interstate 
movement of swine in order to carefully control the movement of swine 
that are infected with or exposed to pseudorabies. The most common 
method of pseudorabies transmission is through the movement of infected 
swine from one herd to another.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 85 govern the interstate movement of 
swine and other livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) in order to help 
prevent the spread of pseudorabies. Regulating the interstate movement 
of these animals requires the use of certain information collection 
activities, including the completion of documents attesting to the 
health status of the swine being moved, the number of swine being moved 
in a particular shipment, the shipment's point of origin, and the 
shipment's destination.
    With this information, we are able to carefully monitor the 
location of infected or exposed animals and prevent them from coming 
into contact with healthy animals.
    These documents also provide useful ``traceback'' information in 
the event an infected animal is discovered and an investigation must be 
launched to determine where the animal originated, as well as the 
number and location of other animals with which it may have had contact 
during its interstate movement.

[[Page 38554]]

    The information provided by these documents is critical to our 
ability to prevent the interstate spread of pseudorabies, and therefore 
plays a vital role in our Pseudorabies Eradication Program.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 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 0.232342 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. producers and shippers, State animal health 
protection authorities, and accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 100.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 134.5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13,450.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,125 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 5th day of July 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13686 Filed 7-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P