[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35604-35605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16213]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0049]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Emergency Management Response System

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 Emergency Management 
Response System.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 25, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0049.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0049, 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-2018-
0049 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 Emergency 
Management Response System, contact Dr. Fred Bourgeois, EMRS National 
Coordinator, PIC, NPIC, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, 
MD 20737; (318) 288-4083. For more detailed information on the 
information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information 
Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Emergency Management Response System.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0071.
    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 
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.
    The Emergency Management Response System (EMRS), which is a web-
based system, helps APHIS manage and investigate potential incidents of 
foreign animal diseases in the United States. When a potential foreign 
animal disease incident is reported, APHIS or State animal health 
officials dispatch a foreign animal disease veterinary diagnostician to 
the premises of the reported incident to conduct an investigation. The 
diagnostician obtains vital epidemiologic data by conducting field 
investigations, including sample collection, and by interviewing the 
owner or manager of the premises being investigated. These important 
data, which are submitted electronically by the diagnostician into 
EMRS, include such items as the purpose of the diagnostician's visit 
and suspected disease, type of operation on the premises, the number 
and type of animals on the premises, the number of sick or dead animals 
on the premises, the results of physical examinations of affected 
animals and necropsy examinations, vaccination information on the 
animals in the herd or flock, biosecurity practices at the site, 
whether any animals were recently moved out of the herd or flock, 
whether any new animals were recently introduced into the herd or 
flock, the number and kinds

[[Page 35605]]

of test samples taken, and detailed geographic data concerning the 
premises location. EMRS allows these epidemiological and diagnostic 
data to be documented and transmitted more efficiently.
    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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Owners or operators of livestock and poultry 
facilities and State animal health officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 136.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 12.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,632.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,632 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 25th day of July 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16213 Filed 7-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P