[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29656-29657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14714]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 119 / Tuesday, June 23, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 29656]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0045]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Animal Health Monitoring System; Poultry 2010 Study

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 initiate an information collection to support the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System; Poultry 2010 Study.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 24, 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-2009-0045 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-2009-0045, 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-2009-0045.
    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 Poultry 2010 
Study, contact Ms. Sandra Warnken, Management and Program Analyst, 
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre 
Avenue, Building B MS 2E3, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-7193. 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 Animal Health Monitoring System; Poultry 2010 
Study.
    OMB Number: 0579-xxxx.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new 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 protect the health of our Nation's livestock and poultry 
populations by preventing the introduction and interstate spread of 
serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating such 
diseases from the United States when feasible. In connection with this 
mission, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
operates the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which 
collects nationally representative, statistically valid, and 
scientifically sound data on the prevalence and economic importance of 
livestock diseases and associated risk factors.
    NAHMS' national studies have evolved into a collaborative industry 
and government initiative to help determine the most effective means of 
preventing and controlling diseases of livestock, including poultry. 
APHIS is the only agency responsible for collecting data on poultry 
health. Participation in any NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data are 
confidential.
    APHIS plans to conduct the Poultry 2010 Study as part of an ongoing 
series of NAHMS studies on the U.S. poultry population. The purpose of 
the study is to collect information through questionnaires and biologic 
sampling to:
     Describe the structure of commercial poultry industries, 
including interactions, movements, and biosecurity practices. Describe 
farm-level practices for chicken primary breeder and multiplier flocks. 
Identify critical management practices associated with exclusion of 
disease (such as Mycoplasma).
     Estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors 
associated with clostridial dermatitis (cellulitis/gangrenous 
dermatitis) on turkey grower farms.
     Estimate the size of the urban chicken population in four 
States. Describe bird health, movement, and biosecurity practices of 
urban chicken flocks.
    The 51 companies targeted for the study account for approximately 
85 percent of broiler meat, 71 percent of layers, and 76 percent of 
turkeys slaughtered for human consumption. The study will consist of an 
online company-level questionnaire; an online farm-level questionnaire 
regarding chicken primary breeder and multiplier flocks; and an on-farm 
questionnaire, including biologic sampling for turkey grower flocks, 
completed by either a company veterinarian or farm manager. 
Additionally, an APHIS employee or APHIS-designated representative will 
conduct a phone survey to estimate the size of the urban chicken 
population in California, Colorado, Florida, and New York, and make 
available a questionnaire addressing health and management practices to 
consumers purchasing chicken feed at feed and/or pet supply stores in 
those States.
    Information from this study will be analyzed and organized into 
descriptive reports, and information sheets will be derived from those 
reports. Information sheets will be disseminated to and used by poultry 
producers, animal health officials, private veterinary practitioners, 
animal industry groups, policymakers, public health officials, 
multimedia, academia, and others to improve poultry productivity and 
competitiveness. The data will help APHIS address emerging issues and 
inform poultry disease spread simulation models.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to

[[Page 29657]]

approve our use of these information collection activities for 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 0.050099 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. poultry producers, urban chicken owners, 
consumers who purchase chicken feed, company veterinarians, farm 
managers, APHIS-designated representatives.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 52,651.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.04178.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 54,851.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,748 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 17th day of June 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-14714 Filed 6-22-09; 8:45 am]
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