[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13875-13876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05055]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 8, 2021.
    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 April 
12, 2021 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information 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: Foot-and-Mouth Disease; Prohibition on Importation of Farm 
Equipment.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0195.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 
2002 is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal 
health. (The AHPA is contained in Title X, Subtitle E, Sections 10401-
18 of Public Law 107-171, May 13, 2002, the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002, and can be found at 7 U.S.C. 8301 et. seq.) It 
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.
    As a result of the occurrences of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 
different parts of the world, under 9 CFR 94.1(c) APHIS prohibits the 
importation of all used farm equipment into the United States from 
regions in which FMD exists, unless the exporter provides certification 
signed by an authorized official of the national animal health service 
of the exporting region stating that the equipment, after its last use 
and prior to export, has been steam-cleaned free of all exposed dirt 
and particulate material in the exporting region. APHIS inspects all 
such farm equipment to ensure it complies with the regulations.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
through the use of a certification statement completed by the farm 
equipment exporter and signed by an authorized official of the national 
animal health service of the region of origin, stating that the steam-
cleaning of the equipment was done prior to export to the United 
States. This is necessary to help prevent the introduction of FMD into 
the United States. If the information were not collected APHIS would be 
not be able to determine risk associated with importing farm equipment 
and would be forced to stop the importation of used farm equipment from 
FMD affected regions. This could financially impact exporters and 
importers of the equipment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 79.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,159.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Self Certification Medical Statement.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0196.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for ensuring consumers that food and farm products are 
moved from producer to consumer in the most efficient, dependable, 
economical, and equitable system possible. Each year, the United States 
Department of Agriculture's Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) 
agency hires individuals for commodity grading and inspection positions 
to ensure this process is efficient and effective. These positions 
often involve arduous conditions and require direct contact with meat, 
dairy, fresh or processed fruits and vegetables, and poultry intended 
for human consumption; and cotton and tobacco products intended for 
consumer use. 5 CFR part 339 authorizes an agency to request medical 
information from an applicant that may assist management with 
employment decisions concerning covered positions that have specific 
medical or physical fitness requirements. APHIS will collect the 
applicant's medical information using MRP Form 5 (Self-Certification 
Medical Statement).
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected from 
prospective employees assists MRP officials, administrative personnel, 
and servicing Human Resources Offices in determining an applicant's 
physical fitness and suitability for employment in positions with 
approved medical standards and physical requirements. If the 
information was not collected, APHIS would not be able to accurately 
determine the applicant's fitness to safely perform the duties of the 
covered positions.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 1,826.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 306.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Commercial Transportation of Equines for Slaughter.

[[Page 13876]]

    OMB Control Number: 0579-0332.
    Summary of Collection: Section 901-905 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901) authorize the 
Secretary of Agriculture to issue guidelines for regulating the 
commercial transportation of equine for slaughter, by persons regularly 
engaged in that activity within the United States. Specifically, the 
Secretary is authorized to regulate the food, water, and rest provided 
to the equines equines while they are in transit and to review related 
issues be appropriate to ensuring that these animals are treated 
humanely. To implement the provisions of this Act, the Veterinary 
Services program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established minimum 
standards to ensure the humane movement of equines for slaughter.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information in 
the form of owner-shipper certificates of fitness to travel to 
slaughter facility; certificate of veterinary inspection; application 
of backtags; collection of business information on any person found to 
be transporting horses to a slaughtering facility; and recordkeeping. 
The collected information is use to ensure that equines being 
transported for slaughter receive adequate food, water, and rest and 
are treated humanely. If the information was collected less frequently 
or not collected, APHIS' ability to ensure that equines destined for 
slaughter are treated humanely would be significantly hampered.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit, 
Individuals or Households, and Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 332.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion ; Recordkeeping, and 
Third-Party Disclosure:
    Total Burden Hours: 8,608.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: National Veterinary Services Laboratories Request Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0430.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
8301-8317) provides the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to 
prohibit or restrict, through orders and regulations, the importation 
or entry of any animal, article, or means of conveyance if USDA 
determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent 
the introduction or spread of any pest or disease of livestock within 
the United States. Disease prevention is the most effective method for 
maintaining a healthy animal population.
    In connection with this disease prevention mission, the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services 
Laboratories (NVSL) safeguard U.S. animal health and contribute to 
public health by ensuring that timely and accurate laboratory support 
is provided by their nationwide animal health diagnostic system.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using VS Form 4-9, Request for Reagents or Supplies; VS Form 4-10, NVSL 
Customer Contact Update; and VS Form 4-11, NVSL Application for 
Laboratory Training and; VS Form 12, NVSL Laboratories Kit and 
Instrument Order form. These forms are used to safeguard the U.S. 
animal population from pests and diseases. If the information was 
collected less frequently or not collected, APHIS would be unable to 
process reagent orders or provide requested training.
    Description of Respondents: Foreign Federal Government; Individuals 
or households; Businesses; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,115.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,223.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Standardizing Phytosanitary Treatment Regulations: Approval 
of Cold Treatment and Irradiation Facilities; Cold Treatment Schedules; 
Establishment of Fumigation and Cold Treatment Compliance Agree.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0450.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests 
from entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests and 
noxious weeds not widely distributed into the United States, and 
eradicating those imported pests when eradication is feasible. The 
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701--et seq.) authorizes the Department 
to carry out this mission. Under the Plant Protection Act, the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is authorized, among other 
things, to regulate the importation of plants, plant products, and 
other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the 
United States. The phytosanitary treatment regulations established 
generic criteria that allows for the approval of new cold treatment and 
irradiation facilities; cold treatment schedules; and the establishment 
of fumigation and cold treatment compliance agreements.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using PPQ form 519, Compliance Agreements, PPQ form 530, Limited Permit 
and other collection activities to provide generic criteria for new 
cold treatment and irradiation facilities, cold treatment schedules, 
and the establishment of fumigation and cold treatment compliance 
agreements.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit, State, 
Local, and Tribal Government; Federal Government (Foreign).
    Number of Respondents: 92.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 196.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-05055 Filed 3-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P