[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53523-53524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18397]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 13, 2007.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0160.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21, U.S. C. 117, Animal Industry Act 
of 1884, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue guidelines 
for regulating the commercial transportation of horses to slaughter by 
person regularly engaged in that activity within the United States. To 
fulfill this responsibility, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) established regulations in title 9, part 88 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations. The minimum standards cover among other things 
the food, water, and rest provided to these horses while they are in 
transit; and to review other related issues that may be appropriate to 
ensuring that these animals are treated humanely. Implementing these 
regulations entails the use of two information collection activities in 
the form of an owner-shipper certificate, as well as the collection of 
employment information on any person found to be transporting horses to 
a slaughtering facility.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect the following 
information: (1) Shippers name and address and the owner's name and 
address; (2) description of the transporting vehicle, including the 
license plate number; (3) a description of the horse's physical 
characteristics, including its sex, coloring, distinguishing marks, 
permanent brands, electronic means of identification, or other 
characteristics that can be use to accurately identify the horse; (4) 
the number of the USDA back tag that has been applied to the horse for 
identification purposes; (5) a statement of the animal's fitness to 
travel, which must indicate that the horse is able to bear weight on 
all four limbs, is able to walk unassisted, is not blind in both eyes, 
is older than 6 months of age, and is not likely to give birth during 
the trip; (6) a description of anything unusual with regard to the 
physical condition of the horse, such as a wound or blindness in one 
eye, and any special handling needs; (7) the date, time, and place the 
horse was loaded on the conveyance; and (8) a statement that the horse 
was provided access to food, water, and rest prior to transport. This 
information is helpful in those instances in which APHIS must conduct a 
trace back investigation of any possibly stolen horses.
    Description of Respondents: Business or Other For-Profit; 
Individuals or Households; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,203.

Animal Plant & Health Inspection Service

    Title: Pseudorabies In Swine; Payment To Indemnity.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0137.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing the interstate spread of pest and 
diseases of livestock within the United States and for conducting 
eradication programs. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) established an accelerated pseudorabies program, including the 
payment of indemnity, to further pseudorabies eradication efforts in 
cooperation with States and industry and to protect swine not infected 
with pseudorabies from the disease. Pseudorabies is a contagious, 
infectious, and communicable disease of livestock, primarily swine. 
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. APHIS will collect information using 
several APHIS forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information on 
the number of animals being relinquished, their estimated weight, and 
the market price of the animals for the particular week, and the total 
compensation amount that the owner can expect to

[[Page 53524]]

receive. If the information were not collected, APHIS would not be able 
to launch the accelerated pseudorabies eradication program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 5,700.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,156.

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Restrictions on Importation of Live Poultry, Poultry Meat, 
and Other Poultry Products from Specified Regions.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0228.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. 117, Animal Industry Act of 
1884, authorizes the Secretary to prevent, control and eliminate 
domestic diseases such as brucellosis, as well as to take actions to 
prevent and manage exotic diseases such as classical swine fever and 
other foreign animal diseases. Veterinary Services of the USDA's Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for 
administering regulations intended to prevent the introduction of 
animal diseases into the United States. The regulations in 9 CFR Part 
94 allow the importation of poultry meat and products and live poultry 
from Argentina and the Mexican States of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and 
Yucatan under certain conditions. APHIS will collect information 
through the use of a certification statement that must be completed by 
Mexican veterinary authorities prior to export.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected from the 
certificate will provide APHIS with critical information concerning the 
origin and history of the items destined for importation in the United 
States. Without the information APHIS' ability to ensure that poultry, 
poultry meat, or other poultry products from certain States within 
Mexico pose a minimal risk of introducing exotic Newcastle disease and 
other exotic animal diseases into the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 100.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-18397 Filed 9-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P