[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65820-65821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26385]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 5, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 65820]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0115]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; National Veterinary Accreditation Program

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 the national veterinary 
accreditation program.

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/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0115 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-2007-0115, 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-2007-0115.
    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 veterinary 
accreditation program, contact Ms. Lynn Thomas, Management Analyst, 
Surveillance and Identification Programs, NCAHP, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5777. 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: National Veterinary Accreditation Program.
    OMB Number: 0579-0032.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an 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 prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement 
of animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into and 
dissemination within the United States of animal diseases and pests and 
for eradicating such diseases when feasible.
    To help us accomplish our mission, APHIS' Veterinary Services (VS) 
administers the National Veterinary Accreditation Program. This program 
accredits and authorizes private veterinary practitioners to work 
cooperatively with Federal veterinarians, as well as with State animal 
health officials, to conduct certain activities for us. Accredited 
veterinarians are instrumental in increasing our capacity to perform 
health certifications and conduct extensive disease surveillance and 
monitoring.
    The program requires the use of certain information collection 
activities, including VS Form 1-36A (Application for Veterinary 
Accreditation), explanation statement for refused endorsement, updated 
contact information, and veterinary accreditation certificate.
    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 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 0.35289 hours per response.
    Respondents: Private veterinary practitioners, State animal health 
officials, accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,001.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.70
    Estimated annual number of responses: 8,501.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,001 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 65821]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of October 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26385 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P