[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 64 (Monday, April 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15429-15430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7622]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0010]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Tuberculosis

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 the bovine tuberculosis regulations.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
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-2009-0010 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-2009-0010, 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-2009-0010.
    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 domestic

[[Page 15430]]

tuberculosis program, contact Dr. Charles W. Hench, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Ruminant Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, 
Building B MS 320, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-7378. 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: Tuberculosis.
    OMB Number: 0579-0146.
    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 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among other 
things, to prohibit or restrict the interstate movement of animals and 
animal products to prevent the dissemination within the United States 
of animal diseases and pests and for conducting programs to detect, 
control, and eradicate pests and diseases of livestock. In connection 
with this mission, APHIS participates in the Cooperative State-Federal 
Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program, which is a national program to 
eliminate bovine tuberculosis from the United States. This program is 
conducted under various States' authorities supplemented by Federal 
authorities regulating interstate movement of affected animals.
    The tuberculosis regulations contained in 9 CFR part 77 provide 
several levels of tuberculosis risk classifications to be applied to 
States and zones within States, and classify States and zones according 
to their tuberculosis risk. The regulations restrict the interstate 
movement of cattle, bison, and captive cervids from the various classes 
of States or zones to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.
    These regulations contain information collection activities, 
including requirements for epidemiological reviews, certificates for 
animals moved interstate, tuberculosis management plans, submission by 
States of requests to APHIS for State or zone status, and submission by 
States of an annual report to APHIS for renewal of State or zone 
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 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 
collection of information, 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 collection of information 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 0.6433521 hours per response.
    Respondents: State animal health officials and accredited 
veterinarians.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2,585.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.4003868.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 6,205.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,992 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 31st day of March 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-7622 Filed 4-3-09; 8:45 am]
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