[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49980-49981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20576]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0060]


Notice of Request for an Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with the regulations for the interstate movement 
of certain land tortoises.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 25, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0060.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0060, 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-2019-
0060 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 land tortoises 
program, contact Dr. Alicia Marston, Staff Veterinary Medical Officer, 
Strategy & Policy, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 
39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3361. For more detailed information 
on the information collection, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' 
Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises.

[[Page 49981]]

    OMB Control Number: 0579-0156.
    Type of Request: 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 
prohibit or restrict the interstate movement of animals and animal 
products to prevent the dissemination of animal diseases and pests 
within the United States.
    The regulations in 9 CFR 93.701(c) prohibit the importation of the 
leopard tortoise, the African spurred tortoise, and the Bell's 
hingeback tortoise. APHIS implemented importation restrictions to 
prevent the introduction and spread of exotic ticks known to be vectors 
of heartwater disease, an acute, infectious disease of cattle and other 
ruminants. For leopard, African spurred, and Bell's hingeback tortoises 
already in the United States, the regulations in 9 CFR 74.1 allow for 
their interstate movement for sale, health care, adoption, or export to 
another country only if they are accompanied by a health certificate or 
certificate of veterinary inspection.
    The health certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection must 
be signed by an accredited veterinarian, and must state that the 
tortoises have been examined by that veterinarian and found free of 
ticks within 30 days prior to movement. Animal owners may use one of 
several different types of health certificates that are issued at the 
State level. All documents request the same data, and any may be used 
and submitted to APHIS.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities 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 1.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Accredited veterinarians, business owners, and 
individuals.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 50.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 250.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 375 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 17th day of September 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20576 Filed 9-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P