[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45450-45451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16612]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0023]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Animal Health Monitoring System; Antimicrobial Use Studies

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 approval of a new information collection 
associated with the National Animal Health Monitoring System's studies 
on antimicrobial use in cattle feedlot and swine operations.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0023.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0023, 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-2016-
0023 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 Antimicrobial 
Use Studies, contact Mr. William Kelley, Supervisory Management and 
Program Analyst, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 
2150 Centre Avenue, Building B, MS 2E6, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 
494-7270. 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: National Animal Health Monitoring System; Antimicrobial Use 
Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to 
protect the health of U.S. livestock and poultry populations by 
preventing the introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases 
and pests of livestock and by eradicating such diseases from the United 
States when feasible. In connection with this mission, APHIS operates 
the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which collects 
data on the prevalence and economic importance of livestock diseases 
and associated risk factors.
    NAHMS' national studies are a collaborative industry and government 
initiative to help determine the most effective means of preventing and 
controlling diseases of livestock. APHIS is the only agency responsible 
for collecting data on livestock health.
    On March 20, 2012, NAHMS was recognized by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) as a statistical unit under the Confidential 
Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. In 
accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of 
Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347, and other applicable Federal 
laws, all data provided to NAHMS under the antimicrobial use studies 
will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in any identifiable 
form. Only NAHMS staff and designated agents will be permitted access 
to individual-level data. All information acquired under antimicrobial 
use studies will be used for statistical purposes only.
    APHIS plans to initiate two annual antimicrobial use studies, one 
on cattle feedlots and one on swine operations. The studies' objectives 
are to describe antimicrobial use practices on livestock operations 
annually, including the impacts of U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
policy changes. The antimicrobial use studies will consist of 
Antimicrobial Use Producer Agreements and questionnaires administered 
by National Agricultural Statistics Service personnel. Information 
collected will be analyzed and organized by NAHMS into one or more 
descriptive reports containing summary statistics. The information will 
be used to describe current antimicrobial use practices; help 
policymakers and industry make informed decisions; assist researchers 
and private enterprise in identifying and focusing on vital issues 
related to antimicrobial use; facilitate education of future producers 
and veterinarians; and collect data capable of informing responses to 
objectives 2.4.3 and 2.4.4 of the National Action Plan for Combating 
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.
    We are asking OMB to approve our use of these information 
collection activities for 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 0.4276 hours per response.
    Respondents: Cattle feedlot personnel and swine owners and 
operators.

[[Page 45451]]

    Estimated annual number of respondents: 7,200.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 10,800.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,618 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 8th day of July 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-16612 Filed 7-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P