[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 71 (Friday, April 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19802-19803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7753]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0029]


Notice of Request for Revision and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Emergency Management Response System

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision and 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 a revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the Emergency Management 
Response System.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
10, 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-2008-0029 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-2008-0029, 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-2008-0029.
    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.

[[Page 19803]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Emergency 
Management Response System, contact Dr. Randall Crom, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management, 
VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-
8073. 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: Emergency Management Response System.
    OMB Number: 0579-0071.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
among other things, administers regulations intended to prevent foreign 
diseases of livestock or poultry from being introduced into the United 
States, conducts surveillance for the early detection of such foreign 
animal diseases, and conducts eradication programs if such foreign 
diseases are detected.
    Through our automated Emergency Management Response System (EMRS), 
APHIS helps manage and investigate potential incidents of foreign 
animal diseases in the United States.
    When a potential foreign animal disease incident is reported, APHIS 
dispatches a foreign animal disease veterinary diagnostician to the 
site to conduct an investigation. The diagnostician obtains vital 
epidemiologic data by conducting field investigations, including sample 
collection, and by interviewing the owner or manager of the premises 
being investigated. These important data, submitted electronically by 
the diagnostician into EMRS, include such items as the number of sick 
or dead animals on the premises, the results of necropsy examinations, 
vaccination information on the animals in the flock or herd, 
biosecurity practices at the site, whether any animals were recently 
moved out of the herd or flock, whether any new animals were recently 
introduced into the herd or flock, and detailed geographic data 
concerning premises location.
    The previous title of this collection was ``Foreign Animal Disease/
Emerging Disease Investigation (FAD/EDI) Database.'' After development 
and implementation of an automated system to collect animal disease 
related data, the collection title was changed to ``Emergency 
Management Response System.'' The Web-based system allows 
epidemiological and diagnostic data to be documented and transmitted 
more efficiently. VS form 12-27, which was used by diagnosticians to 
record data prior to EMRS implementation, is now obsolete.
    We are asking the Office of Management (OMB) to approve our use of 
these information collection activities for 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 
collection of information, 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 collection of information 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: Owners/managers of premises.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 660.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 4.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,640.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,640 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 7th day of April 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-7753 Filed 4-10-08; 8:45 am]
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