[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 196 (Thursday, October 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57910-57911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20046]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0092]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Swine Health Protection

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 swine health protection program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 10, 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-2007-0092 to submit or view public 
comments and to view supporting and related materials available

[[Page 57911]]

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-
2007-0092, 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-2007-0092.
    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 the swine health 
protection program, contact Dr. David Pyburn, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Aquaculture, Swine, Equine and Poultry Programs, NCAHP, 
VS, APHIS, 210 Walnut Street Room 891, Des Moines, IA 50309; (515) 284-
4122. 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: Swine Health Protection.
    OMB Number: 0579-0065.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the importation and 
interstate movement of animals and animal products, and conducts 
various other activities to protect the health of our Nation's 
livestock and poultry.
    The Swine Health Protection Act prohibits the feeding of garbage to 
swine unless the garbage has been treated to kill disease organisms. 
Untreated garbage is one of the primary media through which numerous 
infectious and communicable diseases can be transmitted to swine. 
APHIS' regulations promulgated under the Swine Health Protection Act, 
which are located at 9 CFR part 166, require that, before garbage may 
be fed to swine, it must be treated at a facility holding a valid 
permit to treat the garbage and must be treated according to the 
regulations.
    APHIS requires certain information in order to license (issue a 
permit to) a facility to operate and in order to monitor the facility 
for compliance with the regulations. This information is collected from 
applications for a license to operate a garbage treatment facility, 
records of the destination and date of removal of all food waste or 
garbage from the treatment facility, and food waste reports. With this 
information, we are able to carefully monitor garbage treatment 
facilities to ensure that they are meeting our requirements. The 
information provided by these information collection activities is 
critical in preventing the interstate spread of various swine diseases 
and, therefore, plays a vital role in our swine health protection 
program.
    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 this 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 0.927559193 hours per response.
    Respondents: Owners/operators (licensees) of garbage treatment 
facilities, State animal health authorities, and herd owners.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,916.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.929540709.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 11,361.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 10,538 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 4th day of October 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-20046 Filed 10-10-07; 8:45 am]
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