[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 116 (Monday, June 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27792-27793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12643]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0045]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with its efforts to control Johne's 
disease in the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or August 18, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0045.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0045, 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-
0045 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 Johne's disease, 
contact Dr. Michael Carter, Assistant Director, Cattle Health Center, 
VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-
3510. 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: Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0338.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the authority of 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 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.
    Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a 
healthy animal population and for enhancing APHIS' ability to compete 
in the world market of animal and animal product trade. Johne's disease 
affects cattle, sheep, goats, and other ruminants. It is an incurable 
and contagious disease that results in progressive wasting and eventual 
death. The disease is nearly always introduced into a healthy herd by 
an infected animal that is not showing symptoms of the disease.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 80 pertain specifically to the 
interstate movement of domestic animals that are positive to an 
official test for Johne's disease. These regulations provide that 
cattle, sheep, goats, and other domestic animals that are positive to 
an official test for Johne's disease may generally be moved interstate 
only to a recognized slaughtering establishment or to an approved 
livestock facility for sale to such an establishment. However, they may 
also be moved for purposes other than slaughter under certain 
conditions. Moving Johne's-positive livestock interstate for slaughter 
or for other purposes without increasing the risk of disease spread 
requires a movement permit or an owner-shipper statement, official ear 
tags, and a permission to move request. Permission may also be sought, 
in writing, for movement of animals that do not have a permit, owner-
shipper statement, or ear tags.
    To more accurately reflect the current activities, APHIS has 
revised the title of this information collection from ``Voluntary 
Bovine Johne's Disease Control Program'' to ``Johne's Disease in 
Domestic Animals.''
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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

[[Page 27793]]

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 0.69 hours per response.
    Respondents: Accredited veterinarians, herd owners, and livestock 
shippers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 7.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 9 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 June 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12643 Filed 6-16-17; 8:45 am]
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