[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7788-7789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01386]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0102]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an Information Collection; 
National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy Surveillance Program

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reinstatement 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 the reinstatement of an information collection 
associated with National Veterinary Services Laboratories diagnostic 
support for the bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
24, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0102.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0102, 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-
0102 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 collection activities 
associated with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance 
program, contact Dr. Tyler McAlpin, Staff Veterinarian, Surveillance, 
Preparedness, and Response, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3458. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. 
Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
851-2483.

[[Page 7789]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy Surveillance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0409.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement 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 (USDA) is authorized, among other 
things, to carry out activities to detect, control, and eradicate pests 
and diseases of livestock within the United States. APHIS' National 
Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) safeguard U.S. animal health 
and contribute to public health by ensuring that timely and accurate 
laboratory support is provided by their nationwide animal health 
diagnostic system.
    USDA complies with the standard set by the World Organization for 
Animal Health (OIE) for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) 
surveillance. This compliance is critical for maintaining our BSE-risk 
status with the OIE. Our BSE surveillance program requires information 
collection activities, such as completing the USDA BSE Surveillance 
Submission form and the USDA BSE Surveillance Data Collection form.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (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 0.1 hours per response.
    Respondents: Slaughter establishments, offsite collection 
facilities for condemned slaughter cattle, rendering 3D/4D facilities, 
State animal health personnel, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and 
accredited veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,035.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 29.23.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 30,248.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,026 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 January 2017.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-01386 Filed 1-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P