[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57737-57738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23670]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0056]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy Surveillance Program Documents

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 request approval of an information collection associated 
with National Veterinary Services Laboratories diagnostic support for 
the bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 22, 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-2010-0056) to submit or view comments 
and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2010-0056, 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-2010-0056.
    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 documents 
associated with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance 
program, contact Dr. Nancy Clough, VS, APHIS, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, 
IA 50010; (515) 337-7989. 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 Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy Surveillance Program Documents.
    OMB Number: 0579-xxxx.
    Type of Request: 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 carry out activities to detect, control, and eradicate pests 
and diseases of livestock within the United States. APHIS' National 
Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) safeguard U.S. animal health 
and contribute to public health by ensuring that timely and accurate 
laboratory support is provided by their nationwide animal health 
diagnostic system.
    NVSL conducts an ongoing surveillance program to monitor and assess 
changes to the BSE status of U.S cattle and to provide mechanisms for 
early detection of BSE. NVSL collects samples from a variety of sites 
and from the cattle populations where the disease is most likely to be 
detected. These diagnostic services involve information collection 
activities, including the BSE Surveillance Submission Form/Continuation 
Sheet (VS Forms 17-146/17-146A) and the BSE Surveillance Data 
Collection Form (VS Form 17-131).
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 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 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 0.1000068 hours per response.
    Respondents: Slaughter establishments, offsite collection 
facilities for condemned slaughter, 3D/4D facilities, veterinary 
diagnostic laboratories, and State animal health personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 60.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 732.95.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 43,977.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,398 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.

[[Page 57738]]

    Done in Washington, DC, this 16\th\ day of September 2010.

Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-23670 Filed 9-21-10; 12:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S