[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 57197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26059]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0085]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; National Veterinary Services Laboratories 
Request Forms

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 safeguard the 
health of the U.S. livestock and poultry populations by the use of 
National Veterinary Services Laboratories request forms.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0085.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0085, 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-
0085 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 National Veterinary 
Services Laboratories request forms, contact Ms. Lori Anderson, Chief 
of Staff, STAS, VS, APHIS, 1920 Dayton Ave., Ames, IA 50010; (515) 337-
7405. 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: National Veterinary Services Laboratories Request Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0430.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) 
provides the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to prohibit or 
restrict, through orders and regulations, the importation or entry of 
any animal, article, or means of conveyance if the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary 
to prevent the introduction or spread of any pest or disease of 
livestock within the United States. Disease prevention is the most 
effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population.
    As an element of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) disease prevention mission, the National Veterinary Services 
Laboratories (NVSL) safeguard U.S. animal health by ensuring that 
timely and accurate laboratory support is provided through a nationwide 
animal health diagnostic system. NVSL's work necessitates the use of 
several information collection activities including requests for 
reagents or supplies, NVSL contact information updates, and NVSL 
applications for laboratory training.
    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 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 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Domestic and foreign diagnostic laboratories (Federal, 
State, university, or private), researchers (academia, private, 
government), and private veterinary practitioners.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 652.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 4.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,800.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 692 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 November 29, 2017.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26059 Filed 12-1-17; 8:45 am]
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