[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 196 (Thursday, October 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57909-57910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20090]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 196 / Thursday, October 11, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 57909]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

 October 5, 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 and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Certificate for Poultry and Hatching Eggs for Export.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0048.
    Summary of Collection: The export of agricultural commodities, 
including poultry and hatching eggs is a major business in the United 
States and contributes to a favorable balance of trade. As part of its 
mission to facilitate the export of U.S. poultry and poultry products, 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services, maintains information 
regarding the import health requirements of other countries for poultry 
and hatching eggs exported from the U.S. Most countries require a 
certification that our poultry and hatching eggs are disease free. VS 
Form 17-6, Certificate for Poultry & Hatching Eggs for Export, is used 
to meet these requirements.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will use VS form 17-6, to 
collect information on the quantity and type of poultry and hatching 
egg designated for export. The information is necessary to satisfy the 
import requirements of the receiving countries and to prevent unhealthy 
poultry or disease carrying hatching eggs from being exported from the 
United States, thereby protecting and encouraging trade with the United 
States and preventing the international dissemination of poultry 
diseases. If the certification was not provided, other countries would 
not accept poultry or hatching eggs from the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,800.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Pseudorabies.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0070.
    Summary of Collection: Title 7 U.S.C. 8301, The Animal Health 
Protection Act, authorizes the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS), on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, to take 
such measures as deemed necessary to prevent the introduction or 
dissemination of any contagious infections or communicable disease of 
animals and/or live poultry from a foreign region into the United 
States or from one State to another. APHIS implements regulations that 
control and stop the escalating spread of pseudorabies, which is a 
herpes virus disease that affects many species of animal, but primarily 
swine. Regulating the interstate movement of swine requires the use of 
certain information gathering activities such as permits, certificates, 
and owner-shipper statements to ascertain the health status of the 
swine.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
by APHIS to monitor the health status of swine being moved, the number 
of swine being moved in a particular shipment, the shipment's point of 
origin, the shipment's destination, and the reason for the interstate 
movement. This information also provides APHIS officials with critical 
information concerning a shipment's history, which in turn enables 
APHIS to engage in swift, successful trace back investigations when 
infected swine are discovered.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,125.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Horses, Ruminants, Swine, and Dogs; 
Inspection and Treatment for Screwworm.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0165.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. 117, Animal Industry Act of 
2000, authorizes the Secretary to prevent, control, and eliminate 
domestic diseases such as brucellosis, as well as to take actions to 
prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as exotic Newcastle disease, 
screwworm, and other foreign diseases. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of 
Agriculture is charged with disease prevention. This agency regulates 
the importation of animals and animal products into the U.S. to guard 
against the introduction of exotic animal diseases. The regulations 
under which APHIS conduct disease prevention activities are contained 
in

[[Page 57910]]

Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter D, Parts 91 through 99. These 
regulations govern the importation of animals, birds and poultry, 
certain animal and poultry products, and animal germplasm. APHIS 
requires horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs imported into the United 
States from regions of the world where screwworm is known to exist to 
be inspected and, if necessary, treated for infestation with screwworm. 
Screwworm is a pest native to tropical areas of South America, the 
Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, tropical and sub-Saharan Africa, 
and the Arabian Peninsula that causes extensive damage to livestock and 
other warm-blooded animals.
    Need and Use of the Information: Horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs 
entering the United States from regions where screwworm is known to 
exist must be accompanied by a certificate, signed by a full-time 
salaried veterinary official of the exporting country, stating that 
these animals have been thoroughly examined, that they have been 
treated with ivermectin, that any visible wounds have been treated with 
camaphos, and the animals appear to be free of screwworm. This is 
necessary to prevent the introduction of screwworm into the United 
States. If the information were collected less frequently or not 
collected at all, it would significantly cripple APHIS ability to 
ensure that horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs imported into the United 
States are not carrying screwworm. Such a development would make a 
screwworm incursion much more likely, with economically damaging 
effects on the U.S. equine, cattle, and swine industries.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 40.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 40.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: CSF--Importation of Pork and Pork Products and Live Swine 
from 4 Mexican States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0230.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. 117, Animal Industry Act of 
2000, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to take such measures as 
deemed proper to prevent the introduction or dissemination of any 
contagious or communicable disease of animals or live poultry from a 
foreign country into the United States or from one State to another. 
Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a 
healthy animal population and enhancing the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) ability to compete in the world market of 
animal and animal product trade. Veterinary Services, a division with 
APHIS is responsible for carry out this disease prevention mission. The 
agency regulates the importation of animals and animal products into 
the United States to guard against the introduction of exotic animal 
diseases such as classical swine fever.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using a certificate issued by a salaried veterinary officer of the 
Government of Mexico. The certificate must identify both the exporting 
region and the region of origin as a region designated as free of 
classical swine fever at the time the swine, pork and pork products 
were in the region. If the information were not collected it would 
significantly cripple APHIS ability to ensure that swine, pork, and 
pork products from certain States within Mexico pose a minimal risk of 
introducing classical swine fever and other exotic animal diseases into 
the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 5.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 50.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Animal Welfare; Transportation of Animals on International 
Carriers.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0247.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (U.S.C. 
2131, et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to 
promulgate standards and other requirements governing the humane 
handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by 
dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, and carriers and intermediate 
handlers. The Secretary has delegated the responsibility for 
administering the AWA to the Administrator of the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS intends to begin applying the 
AWA regulations and standards for the human transportation of animals 
in commerce to all international carriers operating within the United 
States, its territories, possessions, or the District of Columbia. 
APHIS believes that animals being transported by international carriers 
should be afforded the same protection under the AWA as if domestic 
carriers were transporting them.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using APHIS forms 7001, United States Interstate and International 
Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals and 7011, 
Application for Registration. The information collected from the forms 
is necessary for carriers and intermediate handlers to properly care 
for and deliver the animals to destination in a speedy and humane 
manner. The information is also used in documenting instances of 
violations for possible legal action and for locating facilities or 
person who are evading regulations under the law. If the information 
were not collected, full enforcement of the AWA would be limited or 
totally ineffective.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 20.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 175.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-20090 Filed 10-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P