[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 7284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02751]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 2016 / 
Notices  

[[Page 7284]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0095]


Notice of Request for an Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Specimen Submission

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 associated with livestock disease surveillance programs.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0095.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0095, 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-
0095 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 regarding livestock 
disease surveillance programs, contact Dr. Thomas Kasari, Veterinary 
Medical Officer, Surveillance, Preparedness, and Response Services, 
APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg B, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-
7351. 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: Specimen Submission.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0090.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
responsible for, among other things, preventing the interstate spread 
of livestock diseases and for eradicating such diseases from the United 
States when feasible.
    In connection with this mission, Veterinary Services (VS) within 
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts 
numerous disease surveillance programs. A critical operational 
component of any surveillance program is the ability to systematically 
track the presence of disease pathogens as well as any vectors germane 
to the transmission of these pathogens. VS Forms 10-4/10-4A and VS Form 
5-38 are a means to facilitate this tracking capability whenever 
specimens are submitted to APHIS' National Veterinary Services 
Laboratories for diagnostic testing. The VS Form 10-4 and its 
supplemental sheet (VS Form 10-4A) are routinely used whenever requests 
are made to perform laboratory diagnostic tests to identify disease 
pathogens in specimens, such as blood, milk, urine, or other tissues(s) 
collected from any animal, including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, 
horses, cervids, fish, and poultry. The VS Form 5-38, Parasite 
Submission Form, is used to track submission of ticks for 
identification as to their genus and species. The ticks are collected 
under the auspices of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program and the 
National Tick Surveillance Program.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information 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 0.315 hours per response.
    Respondents: State veterinarians and other State personnel whom are 
qualified and authorized to collect and submit specimens for laboratory 
analysis, accredited veterinarians, private veterinarians, animal 
health technicians, herd owners, private laboratories, and research 
institutions.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,240.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.278.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 27,659.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 8,715 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 February 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-02751 Filed 2-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P