[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1824-1825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00192]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 6 / Wednesday, January 9, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 1824]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0096]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy Surveillance Program Documents

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 approval of a new information collection 
associated with National Veterinary Services Laboratories diagnostic 
support for the bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
11, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0096-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0096, 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-
0096 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 documents 
associated with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance 
program, contact Dr. Dean Goeldner, Senior Staff Veterinarian, 
Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 851-3511. 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 Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy Surveillance Program Documents.
    OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new 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 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among other 
things, to carry out activities to detect, control, and eradicate pests 
and diseases of livestock within the United States. APHIS' National 
Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) safeguard U.S. animal health 
and contribute to public health by ensuring that timely and accurate 
laboratory support is provided by their nationwide animal health 
diagnostic system.
    In 2006, APHIS' Veterinary Services (VS) implemented the bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) Ongoing Surveillance Program. NVSL is 
instrumental to this program in its efforts to monitor and assess 
changes to the BSE status of U.S. cattle and to provide mechanisms for 
early detection of BSE, which is a chronic degenerative disease that 
affects the central nervous system of cattle.
    As part of the surveillance program, NVSL tests and analyzes 
samples assembled from a variety of sites and from the cattle 
populations where BSE is most likely to be detected. These diagnostic 
services involve information collection activities, such as the USDA 
BSE Surveillance Submission Form/Continuation Sheet (VS Forms 17-146/
17-146a) and the USDA BSE Surveillance Data Collection Form (VS Form 
17-131).
    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 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 0.1000068 hours per response.
    Respondents: Slaughter establishments, offsite collection 
facilities for condemned slaughter cattle, rendering 3D/4D facilities, 
veterinary diagnostic laboratories, State animal health personnel, and 
accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 60.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 732.95.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 43,977.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,399 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.


[[Page 1825]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of January, 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00192 Filed 1-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P