[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 208 (Monday, October 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 63673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25534]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 208 / Monday, October 27, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 63673]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 22, 2008.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Select Agent Registration.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0213.
    Summary of Collection: The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism 
Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 were signed into law June 12, 
2002. This law is designed to prevent, prepare for and respond to 
bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. The law requires 
individuals possessing agents or toxins deemed a severe threat to 
animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products, to be 
registered with the Secretary of Agriculture unless they have been 
specifically exempted. The registration process entail the use of a 
number of separate forms designed to obtain critical information 
concerning individuals or facilities in possession of certain agents or 
toxins, as well as the specific characteristics of the agents or 
toxins--including name, strain, and genetic information.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) will collect information to determine the 
biosafety level of an entity as well as the entity's biosecurity 
situation. The collected information will also be used to ensure that 
appropriate safeguard, containment, and disposal requirements 
commensurate with the risk of the agent or toxin are present at the 
entity, thus preventing access to such agents and toxins for use in 
domestic or international terrorism. If the information were not 
collected, APHIS efforts to more aggressively prevent a bioterrorism 
event in the United States would be compromised.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; State, 
Local and Tribal Government; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 655.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,268.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-25534 Filed 10-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P