[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44001-44002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17884]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0016]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Commercial Transportation of Equines for 
Slaughter

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 for the 
commercial transportation of equines to slaughtering facilities.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0016.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0016, 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-2014-
0016 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 commercial transportation of equines for slaughter, contact Dr. 
Rory Carolan, Equine Specialist, Surveillance, Preparedness, and 
Response Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 851-3558. 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: Commercial Transportation of Equines for Slaughter.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0332.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996 (``the Farm Bill''), Congress gave responsibility to the 
Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the commercial transportation 
within the United States of equines for slaughter. Sections 901-905 of 
the Farm Bill (7 U.S.C. 1901 note) authorized the Secretary to issue 
guidelines for the regulation of commercial transportation of equines 
for slaughter by persons regularly engaged in that activity within the 
United States. As a result of that authority, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
established regulations in 9 CFR part 88, ``Commercial Transportation 
of Equines for Slaughter.''
    The minimum standards cover, among other things, the food, water, 
and rest provided to such equines prior to transportation. The 
regulations also require the owner/shipper of the

[[Page 44002]]

equines to take certain actions in loading and transporting the equines 
and to certify that the commercial transportation meets certain 
requirements. In addition, the regulations prohibit the commercial 
transportation for slaughter of equines considered to be unfit for 
travel, the use of electric prods on such animals in commercial 
transportation for slaughter, and the use of double-deck trailers for 
commercial transportation of equines for slaughter.
    These regulations require information collection activities, 
including a USDA-APHIS Owner/Shipper Certificate Fitness to Travel to a 
Slaughter Facility Form/Continuation Sheet (Veterinary Services-VS 
Forms 10-13/10-13A), maintaining copies of the signed VS Forms 10-13/
10-13A, and the collection of business information from any individual 
or other entity found to be transporting horses for slaughter.
    This notice includes the information collection requirements 
currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the 
commercial transportation of equines for slaughter under OMB control 
numbers 0579-0332 and 0579-0160. These collection activities are 
collecting the same information; therefore, we are combining them. As a 
result, we have adjusted the values in the burden summary to reflect 
the values listed in the most recent renewal of OMB control number 
0579-0160. After OMB approves and combines the burden for both 
collections under one collection (0579-0332), the USDA will retire OMB 
control number 0579-0160.
    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 0.7483 hours per response.
    Respondents: Owners and shippers of slaughter horses, owners or 
operators of slaughtering facilities, and drivers of the transport 
vehicles.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 300.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 43.666.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13,100.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 9,803 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 23rd day of July 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-17884 Filed 7-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P