[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54784-54785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22290]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0104]


Notice of Request for Revision and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Animal Welfare

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 Animal Welfare Act regulations 
for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain 
animals by dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers, and 
intermediate handlers.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 24, 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-2008-0104 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-2008-0104, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2008-0104.
    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,

[[Page 54785]]

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 the Animal Welfare 
Act regulations, contact Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, 
Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 
734-7833. For copies of more detailed information on the information 
collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Animal Welfare.
    OMB Number: 0579-0093.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The regulations in 9 CFR parts 1 through 3 were 
promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2131 et 
seq.) to ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of animals covered under the Act. The Act and 
regulations are enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 3, subparts A, D, and E, cover dogs 
and cats, nonhuman primates, and marine mammals, respectively. Subparts 
B and C cover rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Subpart F of 9 CFR 
part 3 covers warmblooded animals other than dogs, cats, nonhuman 
primates, marine mammals, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Regulated 
facilities are required to keep certain records and provide specific 
information regarding health and feeding, housing, space, 
transportation, exercise, perimeter fencing, marine mammal interactive 
programs, and programs of veterinary care. We review this information 
to evaluate program compliance.
    This notice includes information collection requirements currently 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control 
numbers 0579-0092, ``Animal Welfare; Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and 
Rabbits'' (transportation in commerce), and 0579-0093, ``Animal 
Welfare.'' These information collections do not mandate the use of any 
official Government form. After OMB approves and combines the burden 
for both collections under a single collection (0579-0093), the 
Department will retire number 0579-0092.
    We are asking 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 
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 0.302547 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, carriers, 
and intermediate handlers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 11,687.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 13.477881.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 157,516.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 47,656 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 17th day of September 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22290 Filed 9-22-08; 8:45 am]
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