[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 219 (Monday, November 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58937-58938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27400]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 219 / Monday, November 16, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 58937]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0081]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Spring Viremia of Carp; Import Restrictions on Certain Live 
Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes

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 the importation of live 
fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes to prevent the introduction of 
spring viremia of carp into the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 15, 2010.

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-2009-0081) 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-2009-0081, 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-2009-0081.
    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 the 
importation of live fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes, contact Dr. 
Betzaida Lopez, Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services--Animals, 
National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
39, Riverdale MD 20737; (301) 734-5677. 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: Spring Viremia of Carp; Import Restrictions on Certain Live 
Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes.
    OMB Number: 0579-0301.
    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 livestock diseases and pests. 
To carry out this mission, APHIS regulates the importation of animals 
and animal products into the United States. The regulations are 
contained in title 9, parts 92 through 98, of the Code of Federal 
Regulations. APHIS regulations in part 93 contain requirements to 
prevent the introduction of spring viremia of carp (SVC) into the 
United States.
    SVC is a disease of certain species of finfish, caused by an 
eponymous rhabdovirus. The disease is considered extremely contagious, 
and there are currently no U.S.-approved vaccines or treatments for the 
virus.
    In accordance with the regulations, APHIS restricts the importation 
of live fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes of SVC-susceptible species 
and the importation of diagnostic specimens or research materials 
containing viable SVC virus. The regulations involve information 
collection activities, including import permit applications, health 
certificates, diagnostic specimen applications, refusal of entry orders 
to dispose of fish, customs declarations for an import or intransit 
permit, cleaning and disinfection certificates, 72-hour notification to 
APHIS before arrival of shipments in the United States, and 
recordkeeping.
    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 0.102823 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers of SVC-susceptible live fish, fertilized 
eggs, and gametes and cultures/diagnostic specimens containing SVC 
virus.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 462.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 42.484848.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 19,628.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,018.21 hours. (Due 
to

[[Page 58938]]

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 9\th\ day of November 2009.

Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-27400 Filed 11-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S