[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32529-32530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14815]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0052]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Blood and Tissue Collection and Recordkeeping 
at Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved Livestock Marketing 
Establishments and Facilities

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 the regulations for blood and 
tissue collection and recordkeeping at slaughtering, rendering, and 
approved livestock marketing establishments and facilities to enhance 
animal disease surveillance.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0052.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0052, 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-
0052 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 for 
blood and tissue collection and recordkeeping at slaughtering, 
rendering, and approved livestock marketing establishments and 
facilities, contact Dr. Debra Cox, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Cattle 
Health Center, SPRS, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 851-3504. 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: Blood and Tissue Collection and Recordkeeping at 
Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved Livestock Marketing 
Establishments and Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0212.
    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 U. 
S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to take 
measures to prevent the interstate spread of livestock diseases and for 
eradicating such diseases from the United States when feasible.
    Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a 
healthy animal population and for enhancing the United States' ability 
to compete in international animal and animal product trade markets. 
APHIS uses livestock movement records and epidemiological data from 
blood and tissue sampling to conduct disease surveillance, assess the 
prevalence of disease, identify disease sources, and locate other 
animals that may have come into contact with a diseased animal.
    When a disease is suspected in a given area, sampling is used to 
determine its presence or absence and to estimate the incidence or 
prevalence if it is present. The amount of sampling may increase in 
selected areas when a disease outbreak is suspected, then reduced in 
that area when sufficient tests have been done to prove the suspicion 
was unfounded or, if found, after the disease is eradicated. Sampling 
is also used to provide data for new or updated risk analyses in 
support of disease control programs, and, as required, opening 
international markets for animal products.
    As part of this mission, APHIS' Veterinary Services conducts animal 
disease surveillance programs, diagnostic testing, and agreements in 
accordance with the regulations in 9 CFR part 71. Sections 71.20 and 
71.21 authorize APHIS to conduct disease surveillance and blood and 
tissue sampling activities using livestock facility agreements and 
listing agreements between APHIS and owners and operators of 
slaughtering and rendering establishments and livestock

[[Page 32530]]

marketing facilities. Livestock marketing facilities are able to enter 
into approved livestock facility agreements that include animal 
identification information requirements, timely notifications, 
recordkeeping, and other actions that facilitate tracking animal 
movements and identifying possible disease occurrences. APHIS requires 
all slaughtering and rendering establishments that receive livestock 
and poultry through interstate movement to enter into listing 
agreements that permit the Agency to conduct blood and tissue sampling 
at the facilities. The agreements are critical during disease outbreaks 
as they reduce delays in assessments and, subsequently, disease spread.
    The information collection requirements above are currently 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control 
numbers 0579-0212 (Blood and Tissue Collection at Slaughtering and 
Rendering Establishments) and 0579-0258 (Interstate Movement of Sheep 
and Goats; Recordkeeping for Approved Livestock Marketing Facilities 
and Slaughtering and Rendering Establishments). After OMB approves this 
combined information collection package (0579-0212), APHIS will retire 
OMB control number 0579-0258. Also, as a result of the aforementioned 
merging of information collection packages, APHIS has revised the name 
of this information collection from ``Blood and Tissue Collection at 
Slaughtering and Rendering Establishments'' to ``Blood and Tissue 
Collection and Recordkeeping at Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved 
Livestock Marketing Establishments and Facilities''.
    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 reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.176 hours per response.
    Respondents: State health authorities; accredited veterinarians; 
and owners, operators, and recordkeepers for slaughter and rendering 
establishments, and livestock marketing facilities.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2,864.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 14,010.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,471 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, on July 10, 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-14815 Filed 7-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P