[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42256-42257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17544]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0057]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Brucellosis Program

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 the Cooperative State-Federal Brucellosis 
Eradication Program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0057-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0057, 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

[[Page 42257]]

may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
2012-0057 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 the Cooperative 
State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program, contact Dr. Debbi Donch, 
Brucellosis Program Manager, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3559. 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: State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program.
    OMB Number: 0579-0047.
    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 animal diseases and pests and 
for eradicating such diseases when feasible.
    Brucellosis is a contagious disease that primarily affects cattle, 
bison, and swine. It causes the loss of young through spontaneous 
abortion or birth of weak offspring, reduced milk production, and 
infertility. The continued presence of brucellosis in a herd seriously 
threatens the health of other animals. Brucellosis has caused 
devastating losses to farmers in the United States over the last 
century.
    The State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program, a national 
cooperative program, is working to eradicate this serious disease of 
livestock from the United States. The program uses a system of State 
and area classifications, movement restrictions, surveillance programs, 
extensive epidemiological investigations, and other measures to prevent 
its spread and eradicate the disease.
    These measures require the use of many information collection 
activities and associated forms, including applications for validated 
brucellosis-free herd or brucellosis classification or reclassification 
of a State or area; monthly reports of brucellosis eradication 
activities and surveillance activities; quarterly reports of swine 
brucellosis eradication activities; brucellosis test records; reports 
of backtags applied; brucellosis ring test rack charts and patron 
lists; calfhood vaccination records; field investigations of 
brucellosis market test reactors; logs for market cattle test reactors; 
reports of epidemiologic investigations of brucellosis reactor herds; 
permits for movement of animals; appraisals and indemnity claims for 
animals destroyed; justifications for herd depopulation; and agreements 
for complete herd depopulation.
    These information collection activities are essential in 
determining the brucellosis status of an area and helping herd owners 
by allowing the timely detection and elimination of a serious disease.
    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 0.260594393 hours per response.
    Respondents: Commercial livestock farm owners and/or managers; 
animal agriculture-related business owners and/or managers; accredited 
veterinarians; animal agriculture-related agencies and organizations; 
breed registry agencies; agriculture extension agents; fair and 
exhibition officials; owners, operators, and/or managers of livestock 
markets; livestock dealers, owners, operators, and/or managers of 
slaughter establishments and dairy plants; and State animal health 
officials and laboratory personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 89,464.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.79981892.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 966,195.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 251,785 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 12th day of July 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17544 Filed 7-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P