[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 123 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38108-38109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13735]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 123 / Thursday, June 25, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38108]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0058]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Blood and Tissue Collection and Recordkeeping 
at Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved Livestock Marketing 
Establishments and Facilities

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 regulations governing 
approval and maintenance of livestock marketing establishments and 
facilities, listing blood and tissue collection and recordkeeping, and 
withdrawal or denial of livestock marketing facilities and slaughtering 
and rendering facilities.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 24, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2020-0058.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2020-0058, 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-
0058 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 for 
slaughtering and rendering facilities, contact Dr. Debra Cox, Senior 
Staff Veterinarian (Surveillance), Ruminant Health Center, VS, APHIS, 
USDA, Strategy & Policy, 4700 River Road, Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 851-3504; email: [email protected]. For information on the 
regulations for livestock marketing establishments, contact Dr. 
Alexander Turner, Assistant Director, National Animal Disease 
Traceability & Veterinary Accreditation Center, VS, APHIS, USDA, 
Strategy & Policy, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building B, Mailstop 3E86, Room 
3E100, Fort Collins, CO 80526; Office: (970) 494-7353; Mobile: (970) 
556-3568; email: [email protected]. For information on the 
information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS 
Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Blood and Tissue Collection and Recordkeeping at 
Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved Livestock Marketing 
Establishments and Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0212.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized 
to prevent the interstate spread of livestock diseases and to eradicate 
such diseases from the United States when feasible under the Animal 
Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.). Under 7 U.S.C. 8301, the 
USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), carries out 
this prevention and eradication mission, and APHIS' Veterinary Services 
(VS) program conducts animal disease surveillance and testing using 
procedures and agreements prescribed in 9 CFR part 71.
    Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a 
healthy animal population and for enhancing the United States' ability 
to compete in international animal and animal product trade. A key 
element of this approach is the restricted interstate movement of 
livestock within the United States to mitigate the spread of diseases, 
allowing APHIS to use livestock movement records to conduct disease 
surveillance to protect the health of livestock and poultry 
populations. Epidemiological data from blood and tissue sampling is 
used to assess the prevalence of disease and to identify its source. 
Coupled with animal identification, blood and tissue test results are 
used to trace the movement of an animal that tests positive and 
identify other animals it may have come into contact with that may also 
be diseased.
    When a disease is suspected in a given area, sampling is used to 
determine its presence or absence and to estimate the incidence or 
prevalence if it is present. The amount of sampling may increase in 
selected areas when a disease outbreak is suspected, then reduced in 
that area when sufficient tests have been done to prove the suspicion 
was unfounded or, if found, after the disease is eradicated. Sampling 
is also used to provide data for new or updated risk analyses in 
support of disease control programs, and, as required, opening 
international markets for animal products.
    Regulations in Sec. Sec.  71.20 and 71.21 authorize APHIS to 
conduct disease surveillance and blood and tissue sampling activities 
using livestock facility agreements and listing agreements between 
APHIS and owners and operators of slaughtering and rendering 
establishments and livestock marketing facilities. APHIS requires all 
livestock facilities that enter into approval of livestock facility 
agreements (which are voluntary) to record animal identification, make 
timely notifications, keep certain records, and take other actions that 
facilitate tracking animal movements and identifying possible disease 
occurrences. APHIS requires all slaughtering and rendering 
establishments that receive livestock or poultry interstate to enter 
listing agreements that permit the Agency to conduct blood and tissue 
sampling at the facilities. The agreements are critical during disease 
outbreaks as they reduce delays in assessments and, subsequently, 
disease spread.

[[Page 38109]]

    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 0.15 hour per response.
    Respondents: State animal health officials, accredited 
veterinarians, and livestock marketing, slaughtering, and rendering 
establishment owners and employees.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 784.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 8.5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 6,635.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 993 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 22nd day of June 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-13735 Filed 6-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P