[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 65853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26726]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0072]


Notice of Revision and Request for Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Live Swine, Pork and Pork 
Products, and Swine Semen From the European Union

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision and 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 revise and extend an information collection associated 
with regulations for the importation of live swine, pork and pork 
products, and swine semen from the European Union.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    $ Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0072-0001.
    $ Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. 
APHIS-2012-0072, 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-
0072 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 regarding the 
regulations for the importation of live swine, pork and pork products, 
and swine semen from the European Union, contact Dr. Lynette Williams-
McDuffie, Senior Staff Veterinarian, NCIE, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3300. 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 Live Swine, Pork and Pork Products, and Swine 
Semen from the European Union.
    OMB Number: 0579-0218.
    Type of Request: Revision and 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 92 through 98, of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR).
    Under 9 CFR 94.24 and 98.38, breeding swine, pork and pork 
products, and swine semen from a defined region of the European Union 
(``the APHIS-defined EU CSF region'') must be accompanied by 
certificates stating that certain requirements related to origin, 
movement, testing, and other matters specified in the regulations have 
been met.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    This information collection includes information collection 
requirements currently approved by OMB control numbers 0579-0218, 
``Importation of Live Swine, Pork and Pork Products, and Swine Semen 
from the European Union,'' and 0579-0265, ``Importation of Swine and 
Swine Products from the European Union.'' After OMB approves and 
combines the burden for both collections under a single collection 
titled ``Importation of Live Swine, Pork and Pork Products, and Swine 
Semen from the European Union'' (0579-0218), the Department will retire 
number 0579-0265.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning this 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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Foreign Federal animal health officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 18.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 417.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 7,506.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 7,506 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 25th day of October 2012.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26726 Filed 10-30-12; 8:45 am]
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