[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65821-65822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26384]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0116]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Standards for Privately Owned Quarantine Facilities for 
Ruminants

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 privately owned quarantine 
facilities for ruminants.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 5, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the 
Docket ID column, select APHIS-2008-0116 to submit or view public 
comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing 
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through 
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2008-0116, 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-2008-0116.
    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 
privately owned quarantine facilities for ruminants, contact Dr. James 
Davis, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Import and 
Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 
734-8364. 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: Standards for Privately Owned Quarantine Facilities for 
Ruminants.
    OMB Number: 0579-0232.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (8301 et seq. ), 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United 
States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to 
prohibit or restrict the importation of animals, animal products, and 
other articles into the United States to prevent the introduction of 
animal diseases and pests.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 govern the importation into the 
United States of specified animals and animal products in order to help 
prevent the introduction of various animal diseases into the United 
States. The regulations in part 93 require, among other things, that 
certain animals, as a condition of entry, be quarantined upon arrival 
in the United States. APHIS operates animal quarantine facilities and 
also authorizes the use of quarantine facilities that are privately 
owned and operated for certain animal importations.
    The regulations at subpart D of part 93 (9 CFR 93.400 through 
93.435) pertain to the importation of ruminants. Ruminants include all 
animals that chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, 
deer, antelopes, camels, llamas, and giraffes. Ruminants imported into 
the United States must be quarantined upon arrival for at least 30 
days, with certain exceptions. Ruminants from Canada and Mexico are not 
subject to this quarantine requirement.
    Regulations for privately owned quarantine facilities for ruminants 
require the use of certain information collection activities, including 
applications for facility approval, compliance agreements explaining 
the conditions under which the facility must be operated, 
certifications that the facility meets all applicable environmental 
regulations, requests for variance, and maintenance of certain records 
covering quarantine operations.
    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 this 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 2.9481818 hour per response.
    Respondents: Owners/operators of privately owned quarantine 
facilities for ruminants.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 55.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 55.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 162 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.


[[Page 65822]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of October 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26384 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P