[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48645-48646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19312]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0026]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All 
Subtypes, and Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to 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 request a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the regulations to prevent the 
introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza, all subtypes, and 
Newcastle disease into the United States through the importation of 
birds, poultry, and unprocessed bird and poultry products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0026-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0026, 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-2013-
0026 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 to 
prevent the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza and 
Newcastle disease, contact Dr. Magde Elshafie, Senior Staff Veterinary 
Medical Officer, TTS, NCIE, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 40, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (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: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All Subtypes, and 
Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions.
    OMB Number: 0579-0245.
    Type of Request: Revision to 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 (USDA) 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 
for the importation of animals and animal products are contained in 9 
CFR parts 92 through 98.
    The regulations in 9 CFR parts 93, 94, and 95, govern the 
importation of specified animals and animal products and byproducts to 
prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including highly 
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), all subtypes, and Newcastle disease.
    HPAI, as defined in Sec.  94.0, is an infectious and fatal disease 
of poultry. HPAI can strike poultry quickly without any warning signs 
of infection and, once established, can spread rapidly from flock to 
flock. HPAI viruses can be spread by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg 
flats, crates, and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact 
with the viruses. In addition, HPAI viruses can remain viable at 
moderate temperatures for long periods in the environment and can 
survive indefinitely in frozen material. One gram of contaminated 
manure can contain enough virus to infect 1 million poultry.

[[Page 48646]]

    Newcastle disease is a contagious disease of birds and poultry 
caused by a paramyxovirus. Newcastle disease, as defined in Sec.  94.0, 
is one of most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. A death 
rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. 
Newcastle disease can also infect and cause death even in vaccinated 
birds and poultry.
    APHIS' regulations prohibit or restrict the importation of 
unprocessed bird and poultry products and byproducts from regions that 
have reported the presence of HPAI or Newcastle disease, and contain 
permit and quarantine requirements for U.S. origin pet birds and 
performing or theatrical birds and poultry returning to the United 
States. In addition, there are also restrictions concerning importation 
of live poultry and birds that have been vaccinated for certain types 
of avian influenza, or that have moved through or originate from 
regions where HPAI or Newcastle disease is considered to exist. These 
regulations require the use of a number of information collection 
activities, including the completion of a USDA-APHIS Veterinary 
Services (VS) Application For Permit To Import or Transport Controlled 
Materials or Organisms or Vectors (VS Form 16-3); a United States 
Veterinary Permit for Importation and Transportation of Controlled 
Materials and Organisms and Vectors (VS Form 16-6A); an Application for 
Approval or Report of Inspection Establishment Handling Restricted 
Animal Byproducts or Controlled Materials (VS Form 16-25); USDA-APHIS 
VS Agreement for Handling Restricted Imports of Animal By-Products and 
Controlled Materials (VS Form 16-26); USDA-APHIS VS Report of Entry, 
Shipment of Restricted Imported Animal Products and Animal By-Products, 
and Other Material (VS Form 16-78); USDA-APHIS VS Application for 
Import or in Transit Permit (Animals, Animal Semen, Animal Embryos, 
Birds, Poultry, and Hatching Eggs) (VS Form 17-129); USDA-APHIS 
Agreement of Pet Bird Owner (VS Form 17-8); application of seals and 
agreements; notarized declaration or affirmation; notification of signs 
of disease in a recently imported bird; cooperative service agreements, 
and recordkeeping by processing establishments.
    This notice includes a description of the information collection 
requirements currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for HPAI, all subtypes, and Newcastle disease under number 0579-
0367, and for HPAI, subtype H5N1, under number 0579-0245. After OMB 
approves and combines the burden for both collections under one 
collection (number 0579-0245), the Department will retire number 0579-
0367.
    We are asking OMB to approve our use of these information 
collection activities, as described, 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 0.419 hours per response.
    Respondents: Owners of U.S.-origin pet birds and performing or 
theatrical birds or poultry returning to the United States, and U.S. 
importers of bird and poultry carcasses, parts, unprocessed products 
and byproducts of birds and poultry (bird blood, bird tissues, etc.) 
from certain regions.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,680.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,519.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,055 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 5th day of August 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19312 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P