[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22080-22082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08961]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2014-0009]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Meat 
Slaughter Industry Survey

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a new 
information collection for a survey of the meat slaughter industry.

DATES: May 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this

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proposed rule. Comments may be submitted by one of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Room 
Manager, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, 
Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2014-0009. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act 
Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6067, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; Telephone: (202) 690-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Meat Slaughter Industry Survey.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as 
specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et 
seq.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and poultry 
products are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled, 
and packaged.
    FSIS plans to request a new information collection to conduct a new 
survey of the meat slaughter industry. In 2004, FSIS conducted a survey 
of the meat slaughter industry to collect information on food safety 
practices and technologies. This was part of a broader FSIS effort to 
survey poultry slaughter, meat and poultry processing, and egg products 
industries from 2003 to 2006. FSIS needs to survey the meat industry 
again so that the Agency has current information on industry practices 
for conducting regulatory impact analyses as required by OMB.
    In this currently planned survey of meat slaughter establishments, 
FSIS will collect data to provide the most accurate, up-to-date 
information on industry practices and use of technologies. The 
information gathered through the meat slaughter industry survey will 
provide FSIS with reliable and valid information regarding food safety 
practices in FSIS-regulated establishments; the Agency will use this 
information to estimate costs in regulatory impact analyses. FSIS also 
will use the survey data to evaluate the effectiveness of its meat 
inspection program and to conduct analyses to assess the industry's 
food safety technologies, sanitation practices, microbiological testing 
practices, and recall readiness. The results will also be used in 
conjunction with the results of the 2004 meat slaughter industry survey 
to analyze trends in food safety practices and technologies over time. 
FSIS has made the following estimates on the basis of an information 
collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take each 
respondent 60 minutes and each non-respondent 12 minutes to participate 
in the survey.
    Respondents: Official meat slaughter establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 417 respondents and 173 non-
respondents.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 451.6 hours. Copies 
of this information collection assessment can be obtained from Gina 
Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6077, South Building, 
Washington, DC 20250; Telephone: (202) 690-6510.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of 
information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the 
addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS will also make copies of this Federal Register publication 
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information 
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free 
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, 
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals 
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS 
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription 
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information to regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add 
or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, 
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited 
bases apply to all programs.)
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 
etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and 
TTY).
    To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202 720-5964 (voice and TTY). 
USDA is an

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equal opportunity provider and employer.

    Done at Washington, DC, on April 15, 2014.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-08961 Filed 4-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P