[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55807-55808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26087]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2009-0031]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Electronic Animal Disease and Reporting System)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice is 
announcing the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS's) intention 
to request an extension of an information collection regarding data on 
meat, poultry, exotic animal, and rabbit slaughter for the Agency's 
electronic Animal Disease Reporting System (eADRS) since the OMB 
approval for this information collection is scheduled to expire in 
February 2010, and because the Agency now has more accurate data 
regarding eADRS, which has led to an increase in the estimate of burden 
hours.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before December 
28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
proposed rule. Comments may be submitted by either of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or 
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 2-2175 George 
Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2009-0031. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork 
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250, (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Electronic Animal Disease Reporting System.
    OMB Number: 0583-0139.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 2/28/2010.
    Type of Request: Revision of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS 
protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products are 
safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. 
FSIS also inspects exotic animals and rabbits under the authority of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C 1621 et 
seq.)
    FSIS is planning to request a revision of an approved information 
collection addressing paperwork requirements related to the collection 
of information concerning meat and poultry slaughter for the Agency's 
eADRS.
    In accordance with 9 CFR parts 320, 381.175, 381.180, 352.15, and 
354.91, establishments that slaughter meat, poultry, exotic animals, 
and rabbits are required to maintain certain records regarding their 
business operations and

[[Page 55808]]

to report this information to the Agency as required.
    For eADRS, establishments report (by shift) slaughter totals in 
number of head and weight by animal category.
    FSIS uses this information to plan inspection activities, to 
develop sampling plans for testing, to target establishments for 
testing, to develop the Agency budget, and to develop reports to 
Congress. FSIS also provides this data to other USDA agencies: The 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS), and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA), for their publications and other functions.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of .1207 hours per response to collect and submit this 
information to FSIS.
    Respondents: Slaughter establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 1,341.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 500.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 80,958.3 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-0345.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and, (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of 
information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the 
addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the 
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line 
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2009_Notices_Index/index.asp.
    FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication 
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information 
that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail 
subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, 
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific 
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. 
The Update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and 
the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, 
more diverse audience.
    In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which 
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news 
and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to 
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers 
can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to 
password protect their accounts.

    Done at Washington, DC, on October 23, 2009.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-26087 Filed 10-28-09; 8:45 am]
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