[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 100 (Friday, May 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31136-31137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11075]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0027]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an Information Collection; 
Conditions for Payment of Avian Influenza Indemnity Claims

ACTION: Reinstatement 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 the reinstatement of an information collection 
associated with the regulations for payment of avian influenza 
indemnity claims.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2020-0027.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2020-0027, 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-2020-
0027 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 regulations 
related to avian influenza indemnity, contact Dr. Elena Behnke, Senior 
Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, Veterinary Services, 
APHIS, 1506 Klondike Road SW, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094; (770) 922-
3496; [email protected]. Alternatively, contact Dr. Patricia Fox-
Turner, National Epidemiology Officer--Avian Health, Veterinary 
Services, APHIS, 6 Thorn Brook Court, Durham, NC 27703; (919) 855-7258; 
[email protected]. For further information on the information 
collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS Information 
Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Conditions for Payment of Avian Influenza Indemnity Claims.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0440.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of an information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301 
et seq.) is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal 
health. The law gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to 
detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or 
poultry. The Secretary may also prohibit or restrict import or export 
of any animal or related material if necessary to prevent the spread of 
any livestock or poultry pest or disease.
    U.S. animal health policy calls for elimination of the avian 
influenza virus (both highly pathogenic and low pathogenicity strains) 
when found through depopulation (i.e., euthanasia and disposal) of 
affected poultry. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) works with State and local animal health officials to euthanize 
poultry, clean and disinfect premises and equipment, and test for 
elimination of the virus to ensure that farms can be safely restocked. 
To accomplish this, APHIS Veterinary Services assists State and local 
animal health officials and poultry producers with creating and 
applying biosecurity and response plans, developing and enforcing flock 
plans and compliance agreements, preparing and processing appraisal and 
indemnity claims and worksheets, developing restocking and testing 
agreements, and submitting reports.
    This information collection was previously titled ``Conditions for 
Payment of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Indemnity Claims''. We are 
changing the name to ``Conditions for Payment of Avian Influenza 
Indemnity Claims''.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, for 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

[[Page 31137]]

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 2.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: State and local animal health officials and poultry 
producers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 18,950.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 19,763.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 48,714 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 19th day of May 2020.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-11075 Filed 5-21-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P