[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 91900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30458]


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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. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / 
Notices  

[[Page 91900]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0095]


Notice of Request for an Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises

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 the regulations for the interstate movement 
of certain land tortoises.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 17, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0095.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0095, 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-2016-
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) 7997039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the interstate 
movement of certain land tortoises, contact Dr. Christa Speekmann, 
Import-Export Specialist-Aquaculture, NIES, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 39, Riverdale, MD, 20737; (301) 851-3365. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. 
Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at 301-851-
2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0156.
    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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to 
prohibit or restrict the interstate movement of animals and animal 
products to prevent the dissemination within the United States of 
animal diseases and pests.
    APHIS' regulations currently prohibit the importation and restrict 
the interstate movement of certain land tortoises. The regulations in 9 
CFR part 93 prohibit the importation of the leopard tortoise, the 
African spurred tortoise, and the Bell's hingeback tortoise to prevent 
the introduction and spread of exotic ticks known to be vectors of 
heartwater disease, an acute, infectious disease of cattle and other 
ruminants. The regulations in 9 CFR part 74 prohibit the interstate 
movement of those tortoises that are already in the United States 
unless they are accompanied by a health certificate that must be signed 
by a Federal or accredited veterinarian, and must state that the 
tortoises have been examined by that veterinarian and found free of 
ticks. Animal owners may use one of several different types of State 
health certificates that are issued at the State level. All documents 
request the same data and can be used and submitted to APHIS. The 
tortoises are usually moved interstate for sale, health care, adoption, 
or export to another country.
    We are asking 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 1.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. tortoise breeders, members of tortoise adoption 
organizations, and Federal or accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 50.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 250.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 375 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 13th day of December 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30458 Filed 12-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P