[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30206-30207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12760]


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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. 80, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 27, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 30206]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0034]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Customer/Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys for the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System and the National Veterinary Services 
Laboratories

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an information 
collection to conduct customer/stakeholder satisfaction surveys for the 
National Animal Health Monitoring System and the National Veterinary 
Services Laboratories.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0034.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0034, 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-2015-
0034 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 Customer/
Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys, contact Mr. Chris Quatrano, Industry 
Analyst, Science, Technology, and Analysis Services, VS, APHIS, 2150 
Centre Ave., Bldg. B, Fort Collins, CO 80524; (970) 494-7207. For 
copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, 
at (301) 851-2727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Customer/Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys for the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System and the National Veterinary Services 
Laboratories.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0339.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to protect the health 
of the livestock, poultry, and aquaculture populations in the United 
States by preventing the introduction and interstate spread of serious 
diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating such diseases from 
the United States when feasible. This authority has been delegated to 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
    In connection with this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal 
Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which collects, on a national basis, 
statistically valid and scientifically sound data on the prevalence and 
economic importance of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture disease risk 
factors.
    NAHMS national studies are a collaborative industry and government 
initiative that helps determine the most effective means of preventing 
and controlling diseases of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture. APHIS 
is the only agency responsible for collecting national data on 
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture health. Participating in any NAHMS 
study (including these surveys) is voluntary.
    The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) assists NAHMS 
by providing testing services for many of the NAHMS projects. Primary 
functions of NVSL also include providing diagnostic support for 
domestic diseases, potential foreign animal diseases, import/export 
programs, disease surveillance, and disease eradication efforts. The 
efforts of NVSL are an essential part of preventing and controlling 
diseases of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
    Information from the NAHMS studies is disseminated to and used by 
producers, animal health officials, private practitioners, animal 
industry groups, policy makers, public health officials, media, and 
educational institutions to improve the health and welfare, quality, 
and marketability of the livestock, poultry, and aquaculture in the 
United States.
    The purpose of customer/stakeholder satisfaction surveys is:
     To gather information from producers and other information 
users on the usefulness of studies and reports;
     To minimize producer burden;
     To increase response rates;
     To improve report quality and relevance to producers' and 
stakeholders' needs; and
     To improve laboratory performance.
    Producers and stakeholders participate in the NAHMS program, 
utilize information from NVSL, and/or read NAHMS reports. Therefore, 
administration of customer/stakeholder satisfaction surveys will 
benefit the study process and provide NAHMS and NVSL with information 
to make the programs more effective with timely and relevant 
information.
    NAHMS staff plan to obtain feedback from recipients of the U.S. 
Animal Health Report, NAHMS Study Participant Surveys, and NAHMS 
Descriptive Reports. Feedback from recipients will be used to improve 
the U.S. Animal Health Report and the NAHMS Descriptive Reports and to 
evaluate customer/stakeholder satisfaction in an effort to increase 
participation rates for NAHMS studies. NVSL staff plan to obtain 
feedback using annual NVSL Performance Surveys. The NVSL surveys will 
help NVSL monitor performance.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information

[[Page 30207]]

collection activities 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 0.243 hours per response.
    Respondents: Livestock producers and bison, cervid, equid, and 
dairy farmers; information users; NAHMS Descriptive Report recipients; 
U.S. Animal Health Report recipients; practicing veterinarians; animal 
importers/exporters; and State and independent laboratories.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 18,500.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 0.278.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 5,150.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,236 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 20th day of May 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-12760 Filed 5-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P