[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78965-78966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31705]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 242 / Friday, December 17, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 78965]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0110]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Customer/Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys for the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System and the National Veterinary Services 
Laboratories

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 extension of approval of an information collection 
to conduct surveys of customer/stakeholder satisfaction for both the 
National Animal Health Monitoring System and the National Veterinary 
Services Laboratories.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 15, 2011.

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-2010-0110 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-2010-0110, 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-2010-0110.
    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 Customer/
Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys, 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: Customer/Stakeholder Satisfaction 
Surveys for the National Animal Health Monitoring System and the 
National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
    OMB Number: 0579-0339.
    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 Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to protect the health 
of our Nation's livestock, poultry, and aquaculture 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. This authority has been delegated to the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
    In connection with this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal 
Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which collects, on a national basis, 
statistically valid and scientifically sound data on the prevalence and 
economic importance of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture disease 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, poultry, and 
aquaculture. APHIS is the only agency responsible for collecting 
national data on livestock, poultry, and aquaculture health. 
Participation in any NAHMS study (including these surveys) is 
voluntary, and all data are confidential.
    The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) assists the 
NAHMS by providing testing services for many of the NAHMS projects. 
Primary functions of the NVSL also include providing diagnostic support 
for domestic diseases, potential foreign animal diseases, import/export 
programs, disease surveillance, and disease eradication efforts. The 
efforts of the NVSL are an essential part of preventing and controlling 
diseases of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
    Information from the NAHMS studies is disseminated to and used by 
producers, animal health officials, private practitioners, animal 
industry groups, policymakers, public health officials, media, and 
educational institutions to improve the health and welfare, quality, 
and marketability of our Nation's livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
    Customer/stakeholder surveys are used to:
     Gather information from producers and other information 
users on the usefulness of studies and reports,
     Minimize producer burden,
     Increase response rates,
     Improve report quality and relevance to producers' and 
stakeholders' needs, and
     Improve laboratory performance.
    The NAHMS staff will obtain feedback from Study Participant Surveys 
and NAHMS Descriptive Reports Surveys, and NVSL staff will obtain 
feedback from the annual NVSL Performance Surveys. Feedback from these 
surveys will be used to improve NAHMS Descriptive Reports and to 
evaluate customer/stakeholder satisfaction in an effort to increase 
participation rates for NAHMS studies. The NVSL surveys will help to 
monitor the NVSL's performance. Producers and stakeholders who 
participate in the NAHMS program, customers who utilize information 
from the NVSL, and customers who read NAHMS reports will benefit from 
more effective

[[Page 78966]]

programs and timely, relevant information.
    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 burden on 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 0.24870 hours per response.
    Respondents: Livestock, poultry, and catfish producers; information 
users; NAHMS Descriptive Report Recipients; Animal Health Report 
recipients; practicing veterinarians; animal importers/exporters; State 
and independent laboratories.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 22,500.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 0.31666.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 7,125.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,772 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 13th day of December, 2010.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31705 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
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