[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11612-11613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4152]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0021]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Infectious Salmon Anemia; Payment of Indemnity

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 payment of indemnity due 
to infectious salmon anemia.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
5, 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-2008-0021 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-2008-0021, 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-2008-0021.
    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 regulations for the 
payment of indemnity due to infectious salmon anemia, contact Dr. 
Stephen Ellis, Assistant Area Veterinarian in Charge, Infectious Salmon 
Anemia Program, Aquaculture, Swine, Equine and Poultry Programs, VS, 
APHIS, 16 Deep Cove Road, Eastport, ME 04631; (207) 853-2581. 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: Infectious Salmon Anemia; Payment of Indemnity.
    OMB Number: 0579-0192.
    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

[[Page 11613]]

to prevent the interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of 
livestock within the United States and to eradicate such diseases and 
pests from the United States when feasible. In connection with this 
mission, APHIS established regulations in 9 CFR part 53 to pay 
indemnity to salmon producers in Maine whose fish are destroyed because 
of infectious salmon anemia (ISA).
    ISA is a foreign animal disease of Atlantic salmon, caused by an 
orthomyxovirus. The disease affects both wild and farmed Atlantic 
salmon. ISA poses a substantial threat to the economic viability and 
sustainability of salmon aquaculture in the United States.
    In order to take part in the indemnity program, producers must 
enroll in the cooperative ISA control program administered by APHIS and 
the State of Maine. Program participants must inform the ISA Program 
Veterinarian in writing of the name of their accredited veterinarian; 
develop biosecurity protocols and a site-specific ISA action plan; 
submit fish inventory and mortality information; assist APHIS or State 
officials with on-site disease surveillance, testing, and biosecurity 
audits; and complete an appraisal and indemnity claim form.
    Payment is subject to the availability of funding.
    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 2.981481481 hours per response.
    Respondents: Program participants (salmon producers) and their 
employees, accredited veterinarians, and State animal health officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 2.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 108.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 216.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 644 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 27th day of February 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-4152 Filed 3-3-08; 8:45 am]
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