[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56335-56337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22441]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2014-0030]


Notice of Request for Renewal of an Information Collection: 
Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP)

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, this 
notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's intention to 
renew an information collection related to the Salmonella Initiative 
Program (SIP). FSIS is requesting the renewal because the current OMB 
approval will expire on January 31, 2015.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. 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 Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Docket 
Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, 
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2014-0030. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made

[[Page 56336]]

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; (202) 690-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Salmonella Initiative Program.
    OMB Number: 0583-0154.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 01/31/2015.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and 
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). FSIS 
protects the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products 
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly labeled and 
packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a renewal of a currently approved information 
collection addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements relating 
to the SIP. SIP offers incentives to meat and poultry slaughter 
establishments to control Salmonella in their operations. SIP does this 
by granting waivers of certain regulatory requirements with the 
condition that establishments test for Salmonella, Campylobacter (if 
applicable), and generic Escherichia coli or other indicator organisms 
and share all sample results with FSIS. SIP benefits public health 
because it encourages establishments to test for microbial pathogens, 
which is a key feature of effective process control.
    In return for meeting the conditions of SIP, the Agency grants 
establishments appropriate waivers of certain regulatory requirements, 
based upon establishment proposals and documentation, under FSIS 
regulations at 9 CFR 303.1(h) and 381.3(b). These regulations 
specifically provide for the Administrator to waive for limited periods 
any provisions of the regulations to permit experimentation so that new 
procedures, equipment, or processing techniques may be tested to 
facilitate definite improvements. Establishments participating in SIP 
agree to the conditions of SIP regarding pathogen testing and sharing 
of test result data with FSIS.
    The previous OMB approval for this collection was for 206,000 
burden hours; however, the Agency will eliminate a substantial number 
of current SIP approvals with implementation of the New Poultry 
Inspection System. FSIS is asking OMB to approve a renewal of this 
collection with a reduction in burden of 152,224 hours.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of 572 hours per response.
    Respondents: Official slaughter establishments that are under a 
waiver.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 94.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 650.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 53,776 hours.
    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.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., Room 6077, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (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.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/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/wps/portal/fsis/programs-and-services/email-subscription-service. 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

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write 
a letter signed by you or your authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:

Mail

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

[[Page 56337]]

Fax

(202) 690-7442.

Email

[email protected].

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC, on September 16, 2014.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-22441 Filed 9-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P