[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50981-50982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20739]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0056]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Swine Hides, Bird Trophies, and Deer Hides

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 importation of swine hides, bird 
trophies, and deer hides.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0056-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0056, 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-
0056 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 regulations for 
the importation of swine hides, bird trophies, and deer hides, contact 
Dr. Tracye Butler, Assistant Director, NCIE, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3340. 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: Importation of Swine Hides, Bird Trophies, and Deer Hides.
    OMB Number: 0579-0307.
    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 livestock diseases and pests. 
To carry out this mission, APHIS regulates the importation of animals 
and animal products into the United States. The regulations are 
contained in title 9, parts 91 through 99, of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 95 (referred to below as the 
regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of specified animal 
products into the United States to prevent the introduction into the 
U.S. livestock population of certain contagious animal diseases. 
Section 95.5 of the regulations contains, among other things, specific 
processing, recordkeeping, and certification requirements for untanned 
hides and skins and bird trophies.
    The regulations require that shipments of hides be accompanied by 
certificates showing their origin and certifying that the hides are 
from areas free of certain animal diseases. Shipments of ruminant hides 
from Mexico must be accompanied by written statements indicating that 
the hides were frozen for 24 hours and treated for ticks. Shipments of 
bird trophies must be accompanied by certificates of origin certifying 
that the trophies are from regions free of exotic Newcastle disease and 
highly pathogenic avian influenza. These activities help ensure that 
the products do not harbor disease or ticks.
    We have increased the estimated annual burden after reviewing the 
regulations and current data. When comparing the regulations with the 
information collection activities, we found that the reporting of 
certificates for hides and skins from certain regions was omitted from 
past information collections.
    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 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

[[Page 50982]]

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 0.1997 hours per response.
    Respondents: Federal animal health authorities in certain regions 
and foreign exporters of certain animal byproducts.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 191.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.7225.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 711.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 142 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 17th day of August 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-20739 Filed 8-22-12; 8:45 am]
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