[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40214-40215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17427]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2018-0028]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Foodborne 
Illness Outbreak Investigation Survey for FSIS Public Health Partners

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to collect 
information from state and territorial government partners on ways to 
strengthen collaborative response to illness outbreaks associated with 
FSIS-regulated food products. The purpose of this information 
collection is to inform FSIS partner outreach efforts in order to 
effectively investigate and prevent foodborne illnesses.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-
3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2018-0028. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
call (202) 720-5627 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Survey for FSIS 
Public Health Partners.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.) and the 
Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These 
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, 
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and 
properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS's Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) provides the 
scientific leadership necessary for the support of science-based food 
safety programs and policies implemented to reduce foodborne illnesses 
and deaths associated with FSIS-regulated products. As part of OPHS, 
the Applied Epidemiology Staff (AES) collaborates with public health 
partners in local, state, and federal government agencies to detect, 
respond to, and prevent foodborne illnesses, outbreaks, and food 
adulteration events. Effective communication between partners 
facilitates rapid investigation and control measures.
    To promote successful partnerships, FSIS will administer a series 
of surveys regarding foodborne illness outbreak investigation to state 
and territorial government partners. The results of these surveys will 
help FSIS assess communication trends and prioritize outreach efforts. 
The surveys will be conducted annually in Fiscal Years 2019, 2020, and 
2021. The surveys will be sent to approximately 112 state and 
territorial government employees each fiscal year.
    Estimate of Burden:

[[Page 40215]]



                            Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2019 Survey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of      Participation
                         Respondents                             respondents     time (minutes)   Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State and territorial government employees...................             112               10             18.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                            Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2020 Survey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of      Participation
                         Respondents                             respondents     time (minutes)   Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State and territorial government employees...................             112               10             18.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                            Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2021 Survey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Estimated
                         Respondents                              number of      Participation    Burden (hours)
                                                                 respondents     time (minutes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State and territorial government employees...................             112               10             18.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Respondents: State and territorial government employees.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 336.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 56 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
method and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through 
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses 
provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through 
the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information 
regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register 
notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that 
could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the 
web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription 
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    Fax: (202) 690-7442.
    Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

Paul Kiecker,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-17427 Filed 8-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P