[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 69600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27481]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0127]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Requirements for Recognizing the Animal Health Status of 
Foreign Regions

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 recognizing the animal 
health status of foreign regions.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 20, 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-2008-0127 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-2008-0127, 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-2008-0127.
    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 
recognizing the animal health status of foreign regions, contact Dr. 
Kelly Rhodes, Case Manager, National Center for Import and Export, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-7602. 
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: Requirements for Recognizing the Animal Health Status of 
Foreign Regions.
    OMB Number: 0579-0219.
    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. 
Regulations governing the importation of animals and animal products 
into the United States are contained in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, ``Importation of Animals and 
Animal Products: Procedures for Requesting Recognition of Regions,'' 
set out the process by which a foreign government may request 
recognition of the animal health status of a region or approval to 
export animals or animal products to the United States based on the 
risk associated with animals or animal products from that region. Each 
request must include information about the region, including 
information on the veterinary services organization of the region; the 
extent to which movement of animals and animal products is controlled 
from regions of higher risk and the level of biosecurity for such 
movements; livestock demographics and marketing practices in the 
region; diagnostic laboratory capabilities in the region; and the 
region's policies and infrastructure for animal disease control. 
Additionally, we require regions that have been granted status under 
the regulations to provide information, or allow us to access 
information, to confirm the regions' animal health status when we 
request it. The types of information collected will vary based on the 
information required to adequately assess a region's animal health 
status.
    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 40 hours per response.
    Respondents: Veterinary authorities in foreign regions that have 
been granted a particular animal health status for a specified animal 
disease.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 120 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 13th day of November 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-27481 Filed 11-18-08; 8:45 am]
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