[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45463-45464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18603]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 23, 2019.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; 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; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by 
September 30, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be 
addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New 
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. 
Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information

[[Page 45464]]

unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Horse Protection Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0056.
    Summary of Collection: In 1970, Congress passed the Horse 
Protection Act (HPA, 15 U.S.C. 1821 et seq.), which was enacted to 
prevent showing, exhibiting, selling, or auctioning of ``sore'' horses, 
and certain transportation of sore horses in connection therewith, at 
horse shows, horse exhibitions, horse sales, and horse auctions. Soring 
is a process whereby chemical or mechanical agents, or a combination 
thereof, are applied to the limbs of a horse in order to exaggerate its 
gait. A ``sore'' horse is one that has been subjected to prohibited 
practices and, as a result, suffers, or can reasonably be expected to 
suffer, physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness when 
walking, trotting or otherwise moving. A horse that is ``sore'' is 
prohibited from entering or participating in HPA-regulated events 
because exhibitors, owners, and trainers of such horse may obtain 
unfair advantage over individuals exhibiting horses that are not 
``sore.''
    Need and Use of the Information: To carry out the Act, the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) administers and enforces the regulations in 9 CFR 
part 11. Part 11 delineates the responsibilities of horse industry 
organizations (HIOs), designated qualified persons (DQPs), management 
of regulated horse events, and persons who have control over regulated 
horses.
    An HIO wishing to certify a program to license DQPs to inspect 
horses for compliance under the HPA must satisfy and abide by the 
requirements of the HPA and regulations. After requesting and receiving 
USDA certification from APHIS, HIOs must maintain an acceptable DQP 
program and recordkeeping systems. Managers and operators of HPA-
regulated events may appoint and retain the services of DQPs to inspect 
and detect a horse that is sore or otherwise noncompliant with the HPA, 
and both managers and DQPs are required to provide and/or maintain 
certain information. Persons who own, train, show, exhibit, sell, 
transport, or otherwise have custody of, or direction or control over 
any horse shown, exhibited, sold, or auctioned or entered for the 
purpose of being shown, exhibited, sold, or auctioned at any horse 
show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction must also satisfy and 
abide by the requirements of the HPA and regulations.
    APHIS works with HIOs on an ongoing basis to oversee their 
performance under the HPA. Throughout the year, APHIS uses training 
sessions, conference calls, and open letters to HIOs, event managers, 
exhibitors, owners, trainers, custodians, and farriers involved in HPA-
covered activities to provide communication and feedback to address 
issues and strengthen enforcement under the Act. Data collected 
throughout the year from within APHIS and from the HIOs and event 
management provide an account of the HIOs' performance and progress 
toward eliminating the soring of horses and promoting fair competition. 
HIOs, through their certified licensing programs for DQPs, provide the 
primary means of detecting sored horses.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals and households.
    Number of Respondents: 2,004.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,374.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-18603 Filed 8-28-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P