[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 189 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56543-56544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22827]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0105]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Animal Health Monitoring System; Goat 2009 Study

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 initiate an information collection to support the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System Goat 2009 Study.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 28, 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-2008-0105 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-2008-0105, 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-2008-0105.
    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 the Goat 2009 
Study, contact Ms. Sandra Warnken, Management and Program Analyst, 
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre 
Avenue, Building B MS 2E3, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-7193. For

[[Page 56544]]

copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS* Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Animal Health Monitoring System; Goat 2009 Study.
    OMB Number: 0579-xxxx.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new 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 prevent the introduction and interstate spread of livestock 
diseases by prohibiting or restricting the importation and interstate 
movement of animals and other articles and by eradicating such diseases 
from the United States when feasible. In connection with this mission, 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) operates the 
National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which collects 
nationally representative, statistically valid, and scientifically 
sound data on the prevalence and economic importance of livestock and 
poultry diseases and associated risk factors.
    NAHMS' studies have evolved into a collaborative industry and 
government initiative to help determine the most effective means of 
preventing and controlling diseases of livestock. APHIS is the only 
agency responsible for collecting data on livestock health. 
Participation in any NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data are 
confidential.
    APHIS plans to conduct the Goat 2009 Study as part of an ongoing 
series of NAHMS studies on the U.S. livestock population. The 21 States 
targeted for the study have approximately 85 percent of the goats in 
the United States and 78 percent of U.S. operations with goats. The 
purpose of this study is to collect information, through questionnaires 
and biologic sampling, to:
     Determine producer awareness of Veterinary Services 
program diseases and describe management and biosecurity practices 
important for the control of infectious diseases (including 
brucellosis, scrapie, caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE), Johne's, 
and caseous lymphadenitis). Provide a baseline description of animal 
health, nutrition, and management practices in the U.S. goat industry.
     Estimate the prevalence of:
      Mycobacterium parataberculosis (Johne's) infection;
      Internal parasitism and anthelminthic resistance; and
      Common causes of mastitis.
      Characterize contagious ecthyma (soremouth) in U.S. 
goats. Determine producer awareness of zoonotic potential and practices 
to prevent soremouth transmission and assess producer interest in an 
improved vaccine for soremouth.
     Examine factors (i.e., genetic and/or management) that 
correlate with CAE virus levels.
     Provide genetic and serological banks for future research.
    The study will consist of a series of on-farm questionnaires, with 
biologic sampling, that will be administered by APHIS-designated data 
collectors. The information collected through the Goat 2009 Study will 
be analyzed and organized into descriptive reports. Information sheets 
will be derived from these reports, and the data will be disseminated 
to and used by a variety of constituents, including producers, 
veterinarians, stakeholders, academia, and others. The data will help 
APHIS address emerging issues and examine the economic impact of 
selected health management practices.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (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 
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 1.048689 hours per response.
    Respondents: Goat producers in 21 States.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,500.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.5536.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 8,544.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 8,960 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 23rd day of September 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22827 Filed 9-26-08; 8:45 am]
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