[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18417-18418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07906]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2017-0014]


Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information 
Collection (Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a 
renewal of the approved information collection regarding poultry 
slaughter inspection. The approval for this information collection will 
expire on September 30, 2017. There are no changes to the existing 
information collection.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 19, 2017.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
information collection. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Docket 
Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, 
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2016-0028. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection.
    OMB Number: 0583-0156.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 9/30/2017.
    Type of Request: Renewal of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary as specified in the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). This statute provides 
that FSIS is to protect the public by verifying that poultry products 
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and 
packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a renewal of the approved information collection 
regarding poultry slaughter inspection. The approval for this 
information collection will expire on September 30, 2017. There are no 
changes to the existing information collection.
    FSIS requires that all official poultry slaughter establishments, 
other than establishments that slaughter ratites, maintain as part of 
their HACCP plan, sanitation SOP, or other prerequisite program, 
written procedures addressing (1) the prevention throughout the entire 
slaughter and dressing operation, of contamination of carcasses and 
parts by enteric pathogens (e.g., Salmonella and Campylobacter) and by 
fecal material, including microbial test results, and (2) the 
prevention of carcasses and parts contaminated by visible fecal 
material from entering the chiller. This information was previously 
collected under the FSIS information collection for Sanitation SOPs and 
Pathogen Reduction/HACCP (0583-0103). Each establishment operating 
under the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) is required to collect 
and maintain additional information concerning poultry slaughter:
     As part of the HACCP system, written procedures to prevent 
carcasses afflicted with septicemia and toxemia from entering the 
chiller; and
     records that document that the products resulting from 
slaughter operations meet the definition of ready-to-cook poultry.
    Additionally, each establishment operating under the NPIS also 
needs to submit on an annual basis an attestation to the management 
member of the local FSIS circuit safety committee stating that it 
maintains a program to monitor and document any work-related conditions 
of establishment workers.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of .125 hours to record results and maintain necessary 
documentation.
    Respondents: Official poultry establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 289.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 5,291.3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 19,204 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., 6065, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250; (202)720-5627.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of 
information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the 
addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

[[Page 18418]]

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through 
the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information 
regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register 
notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that 
could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the 
Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription 
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, 
Fax: (202) 690-7442, Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC, on April 11, 2017.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-07906 Filed 4-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P