[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29823-29824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13782]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0048]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and 
Poultry Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological Animals

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information 
collection; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 the importation of animals and 
poultry, animal and poultry products, certain animal embryos, semen, 
and zoological animals.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0048.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0048, 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-
0048 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 importation of 
animals and poultry, animal and poultry products, certain animal 
embryos, and zoological animals, contact Dr. Bettina Helm, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 851-3300. For copies of more detailed information on the 
information collection, contact

[[Page 29824]]

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and Poultry 
Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological Animals.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0040.
    Type of Request: Revision to and 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 of animals, 
animal products, and other articles into the United States to prevent 
the introduction of animal 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.
    Among other things, APHIS' Veterinary Services is responsible for 
preventing the introduction of foreign or certain other communicable 
animal diseases into the United States and for rapidly identifying, 
containing, eradicating, or otherwise mitigating such diseases when 
feasible. In connection with this mission, APHIS collects information 
from individuals, businesses, and farms that are involved with 
importation of animals or poultry, animal or poultry products, or 
animal germplasm (semen, ooycysts, and embryos, including eggs for 
hatching) into the United States, as well as from foreign countries and 
States to support these imports. Some of the information collection 
activities include agreements, permits, application and space 
reservation requests, inspections, registers, declarations of 
importation, requests for hearings, daily logs, additional 
requirements, application for permits, export health certificates, 
letters, written notices, daily record of horse activities, written 
requests, opportunities to present views, reporting, applications for 
approval of facilities, certifications, arrival notices, on-hold 
shipment notifications, reports, affidavits, animal identification, 
written plans, checklists, specimen submissions, emergency action 
notifications, refusal of entry and order to dispose of fish, premises 
information, recordkeeping, and application of seals.
    In addition, APHIS opens U.S. markets to animal commodities by 
receiving and evaluating information collection activities, such as 
requests for recognition of the animal health status of a region, 
applications for recognition of the animal health status of a region, 
applications for recognition of a region as historically free of a 
disease, requests for additional information about the region, appeal 
classification of animal health status, and written recommendation 
implementation from foreign animal health authorities seeking to engage 
in the regionalization process.
    The information collection requirements above are currently 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control 
numbers 0579-0040 (Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and 
Poultry Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological 
Animals), 0579-0165 (Importation of Horses, Ruminants, Swine, and Dogs; 
Inspection and Treatment for Screwworm), 0579-0224 (Tuberculosis 
Testing of Imported Cattle from Mexico), 0579-0301 (Spring Viremia of 
Carp; Import Restrictions on Certain Live Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and 
Gametes), and 0579-0425 (Cattle Fever Tick; Importation Requirements 
for Ruminants from Mexico). After OMB approves this combined 
information collection package (0579-0040), APHIS will retire OMB 
control numbers 0579-0165, 0579-0224, 0579-0301, and 0579-0425.
    We are asking 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 appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.57 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign animal health authorities; U.S. importers; 
foreign exporters; veterinarians and animal health technicians in other 
countries; State animal health authorities; shippers, owners and 
operators of foreign processing plants and farms; USDA-approved zoos, 
laboratories, and feedlots; private quarantine facilities; and other 
entities involved (directly or indirectly) in the importation of 
animals and poultry, animal and poultry products, zoological animals, 
and animal germplasm.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 8,412.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 65.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 545,020.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 313,843 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 27th day of June 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13782 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P