[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7789-7790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01393]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0104]


Notice of Request for an Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All Subtypes, and 
Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions

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 to prevent the introduction 
of highly pathogenic avian influenza, all subtypes, and Newcastle 
disease into the United States through the importation of birds, 
poultry, and unprocessed bird and poultry products.

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-2016-0104.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0104, 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-
0104 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 regulations to 
prevent the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza and 
Newcastle disease, contact Dr. Bettina Helm, Senior Staff Veterinary 
Medical Officer, Live Animal Imports, National Import Export Services, 
VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-
3300. 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: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All Subtypes, and 
Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0245.
    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 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among 
other things, to prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate 
movement of animals and animal products to prevent the introduction 
into and dissemination within the United States of livestock diseases 
and pests. To carry out this mission, APHIS regulates the importation 
of animals and animal products into the United States. The regulations 
for the importation of animals and animal products are contained in 9 
CFR parts 92 through 98.
    The regulations in 9 CFR parts 93, 94, and 95 govern the 
importation of specified animals and animal products and byproducts to 
prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including highly 
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), all subtypes, and Newcastle disease.
    HPAI, as defined in Sec.  94.0, is an infectious and fatal disease 
of poultry.

[[Page 7790]]

HPAI can strike poultry quickly without any warning signs of infection 
and, once established, can spread rapidly from flock to flock. HPAI 
viruses can be spread by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg flats, 
crates, and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact with 
the viruses. In addition, HPAI viruses can remain viable at moderate 
temperatures for long periods in the environment and can survive 
indefinitely in frozen material. One gram of contaminated manure can 
contain enough virus to infect 1 million poultry.
    Newcastle disease is a contagious disease of birds and poultry 
caused by a paramyxovirus. Newcastle disease, as defined in Sec.  94.0, 
is one of most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. A death 
rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. 
Newcastle disease can also infect and cause death even in vaccinated 
birds and poultry.
    APHIS' regulations prohibit or restrict the importation of 
unprocessed bird and poultry products and byproducts from regions that 
have reported the presence of HPAI or Newcastle disease, and contain 
permit and quarantine requirements for pet birds and U.S. performing or 
theatrical birds and poultry returning to the United States. In 
addition, there are also restrictions concerning importation of live 
poultry and birds that have been vaccinated for certain types of 
Newcastle disease, or that have moved through or originate from regions 
where HPAI or Newcastle disease is considered to exist. These 
regulations require the use of a number of information collection 
activities, including various APHIS forms, application of seals, 
agreements, notarized declarations or affirmations, notification of 
signs of disease in a recently imported bird, cooperative service 
agreements, and recordkeeping by processing establishments.
    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 0.55 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign federal government officials and owners of 
U.S.-origin pet birds and performing or theatrical birds or poultry 
returning to the United States, and U.S. importers of bird and poultry 
carcasses, parts, products and byproducts (bird blood, bird tissues, 
etc.) of birds and poultry and eggs (other than hatching eggs) from 
certain regions.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 973.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.81.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,707.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,041 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. 2017-01393 Filed 1-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P