[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 27 (Friday, February 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7506-7507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2369]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0006]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Poultry Meat and Other Poultry Products From 
Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico

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 the importation of poultry 
meat and other poultry products from Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
8, 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-2008-0006 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-2008-0006, 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-2008-0006.
    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

[[Page 7507]]

programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For information on the importation of 
poultry meat and other poultry products from Sinaloa and Sonora, 
Mexico, contact Dr. Christopher Robinson, Assistant Director, Technical 
Trade Services--Products, National Center for Import and Export, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-3277. 
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: Importation of Poultry Meat and Other Poultry Products from 
Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico.
    OMB Number: 0579-0144.
    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 part 94, among other things, restrict the 
importation of poultry meat and other poultry products from Mexico and 
other regions of the world where exotic Newcastle disease (END) has 
been determined to exist. The regulations allow the importation of 
poultry meat and poultry products from the Mexican States of Sinaloa 
and Sonora under conditions that protect against the introduction of 
END into the United States.
    To ensure that these items are safe for importation, we require 
that certain data appear on the foreign meat inspection certificate 
that accompanies the poultry meat or other poultry products from 
Sinaloa and Sonora. We also require that serially numbered seals be 
applied to containers carrying the poultry meat or other poultry 
products.
    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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Federal animal health authorities in Mexico and 
operators of slaughtering and processing plants in Sinaloa and Sonora, 
Mexico, who engage in the export of poultry meat and other poultry 
products to the United States.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 40.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 40 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 February 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-2369 Filed 2-7-08; 8:45 am]
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