[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31292-31293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12764]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0021]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; National Poultry Improvement Plan

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 National Poultry 
Improvement Plan.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0021-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0021, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-
0021 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on regulations for the 
National Poultry Improvement Plan, contact Dr. Charles Roney, NPIP 
Coordinator, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 300, 
Conyers, GA 30094; (770) 922-3496. 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 Poultry Improvement Plan.
    OMB Number: 0579-0007.
    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 to, among other 
things, administer the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP or the 
Plan), the primary purpose of which is to protect the health of the 
U.S. poultry population. NPIP is a voluntary Federal-State-industry 
cooperative program for the improvement of poultry flocks and products 
through disease control techniques. Participation in all Plan programs 
is voluntary, but flocks, hatcheries, and dealers of breeding poultry 
must first qualify as ``U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean'' as a condition 
for participation in the other Plan programs. The NPIP regulations are 
contained in 9 CFR parts, 56, 145, 146, and 147.
    In administering the Plan, APHIS requires a number of information 
activities and forms, including VS Forms 1-23/1-23A, Appraisal and 
Indemnity Claim for Animals Destroyed or Materials Destroyed/
Continuation Sheet; VS Form 9-3, Report of Sales of Hatching Eggs, 
Chicks, and Poults; VS Form 9-4, Summary of Breeding, Flock, Table-Egg 
Layer Flocks, Meat-Type Chicken and Turkey Slaughter Plants 
Participation; VS Form 9-5, Report of Hatcheries, Dealers, and 
Independent Flocks, Table-Egg Producers, Meat-Type Chicken and Turkey 
Slaughter Plants Participating in the NPIP; VS Form 9-6, Report of 
Salmonella Isolations to NPIP Official State Agencies; VS Form 9-7, 
Investigation of Salmonella Isolations in Poultry; VS Form 9-8, Flock 
Inspection and Check Testing Report; VS Form 9-9, Hatchery Inspection 
Form; VS Form 10-3, Request for Salmonella Serotyping; banding of 
sentinel birds for identification prior to flock vaccination; 
memorandums of understanding;

[[Page 31293]]

recordkeeping; and printing and mailing to States, upon request, of 
computerized printouts of interstate sales by hatchery operators who 
ship large numbers of small chick orders.
    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 0.61926273 hours per response.
    Respondents: Flock owners, breeders, hatchery operators, table-egg 
producers, meat-type chicken and turkey slaughter plant workers, 
personnel at approved laboratories, and State personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 10.800.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 15.45490741.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 166,913.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 103,363 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 21st day of May 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12764 Filed 5-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P