[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43137-43138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18094]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 141 / Friday, July 23, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43137]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0017]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Specified Risk Materials)

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 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice 
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request revision of an approved information collection regarding 
specified risk materials (SRMs) in cattle because the OMB approval will 
expire on January 31, 2011, and to incorporate another approved 
information collection, Specified Risk Materials--Transport.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before September 
21, 2010.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. 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-2010-0017. 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: Specified Risk Materials.
    OMB Number: 0583-0129.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 1/31/2011 (SRM--Transport information 
collection approval expires on 12/31/2010.)
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently 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.). This statute provides that FSIS is 
to protect the public by verifying that meat products are safe, 
wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting revision of an approved information collection 
addressing paperwork requirements regarding the regulations relating to 
SRMs in cattle because the OMB approval will expire on January 31, 
2011, and to combine it with another related approved information 
collection, Specified Risk Materials--Transport.
    FSIS requires that official establishments that slaughter cattle or 
process carcasses or parts of cattle develop written procedures for the 
removal, segregation, and disposition of SRMs. The Agency requires that 
these establishments maintain daily records to document the 
implementation and monitoring of their procedures for the removal, 
segregation, and disposition of SRMs and any corrective actions that 
they take to ensure that the procedures are effective (9 CFR 310.22).
    FSIS also requires official slaughter establishments that transport 
carcasses or parts of cattle that contain vertebral columns from cattle 
30 months of age and older to another federally inspected establishment 
for further processing to maintain records that verify that the 
official establishment that received the carcasses or parts, removed 
and properly disposed of the portions of the vertebral column 
designated as SRMs (9 CFR 310.22(g)).
    This monitoring and recordkeeping is necessary for establishments 
to further ensure--and for FSIS to verify--that meat and meat products 
distributed in commerce for use as human food do not contain SRMs.
    FSIS has made the following estimates for the revised information 
collection that combines the two approved information collections based 
upon an information collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of approximately .12 hours per response.
    Respondents: Official establishments that slaughter cattle or 
process parts of cattle.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 3,512.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 303.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 123,916 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

[[Page 43138]]

technology. Comments may be sent both to FSIS, at the addresses 
provided above, and to 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/2010_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 July 16, 2010.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-18094 Filed 7-22-10; 8:45 am]
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