[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 87 (Monday, May 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21364-21365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09253]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0031]


Notice of Request for a Reinstatement of an Information 
Collection; National Animal Health Monitoring System; Beef 2017 Study

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 to 
support the National Animal Health Monitoring System's Beef 2017 Study.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0031.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0031, 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-2017-
0031 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 Beef 2017 
Study, contact Mr. Bill 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.

[[Page 21365]]

Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at 301-851-
2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: National Animal Health Monitoring System; Beef 2017 Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0326.
    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 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.
    APHIS plans to conduct the Beef 2017 Study as part of an ongoing 
series of NAHMS studies on the U.S. livestock population. The purpose 
of this study is to collect information to describe trends in beef cow-
calf health and management practices; describe management practices and 
producer beliefs related to animal welfare, emergency preparedness, 
environmental stewardship, recordkeeping, and animal identification; 
and describe antimicrobial use practices (stewardship) and determine 
the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of potential food-
safety pathogens.
    This study will require completion of producer agreements, consent 
forms, and on-farm questionnaires. In addition, biologic and forage 
sampling will be available to selected participants who complete the 
Veterinary Services Initial Visit questionnaire.
    The information collected through this study will be analyzed and 
organized into descriptive reports. One of the reports will present 
change over time from previous NAHMS beef studies. In addition, several 
information sheets will be derived from this report and disseminated by 
APHIS to producers, academia, veterinarians, and other stakeholders and 
interested parties. Participation in this study is voluntary and up to 
the producer to decide whether or not he or she wishes to participate.
    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 0.4 hours per response.
    Respondents: Beef producers.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 14,842.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,894 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 3rd day of May 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09253 Filed 5-5-17; 8:45 am]
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