[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7247-7248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2264]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0007]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Pork and Poultry Products From Mexico Transiting the United 
States

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 regulations for pork and poultry products 
from Mexico transiting the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0007 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0007, 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-2008-0007.
    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 pork and poultry 
products from Mexico transiting the United States, contact Dr. Masoud 
Malik, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services-Products, 
National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-8096. 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: Pork and Poultry Products from Mexico Transiting the United 
States.
    OMB Number: 0579-0145.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
United States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other 
things, to prohibit the importation and interstate movement of animals 
and animal products to prevent the introduction into and dissemination 
within the United States of animal diseases and pests. To fulfill this 
mission, APHIS regulates the importation of animals and animal products 
into the United States. The regulations are contained in title 9, 
chapter 1, subchapter D, parts 91 through 99, of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    The regulations in 9 CFR 94.15 allow fresh (chilled or frozen) pork 
and pork products and poultry carcasses, parts, and products (except 
eggs and egg products) that are not eligible to enter into the United 
States to transit the United States from specified States in Mexico, 
via land ports, for export to another country.
    The regulations set out conditions for the transit movements that 
protect against the introduction of classical swine fever or exotic 
Newcastle disease into the United States.
    These conditions involve the use of several information collection 
activities, including the completion of an import permit application, 
the placement of

[[Page 7248]]

serially numbered seals on product containers, and the forwarding of a 
pre-arrival notification to U.S. port personnel.
    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 0.920792079 hours per response.
    Respondents: Exporters in Mexico and full-time, salaried 
veterinarians employed by the national government of Mexico.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 22.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 13.7727.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 303.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 279 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 31st day of January 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2264 Filed 2-6-08; 8:45 am]
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