[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14404-14405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05360]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0008]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Animal Health Monitoring System; On-Farm Monitoring of 
Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in U.S. Broiler Production Study

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New information collection; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request approval of a new information collection 
associated with the National Animal Health Monitoring System's On-Farm 
Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in U.S. Broiler 
Production Study.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
17, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2021-0008 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2021-0008, 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 regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located 
in Room 1620 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 NAHMS On-Farm 
Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in U.S. Broiler 
Production Study, contact Mr. Bill Kelley, Assistant Director, Program 
Coordination and Implementation, Center for Epidemiology and Animal 
Health, VS, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building B, Fort Collins, CO 80524; 
(970) 494-7270. For information on the information collection process, 
contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS Information Collection Coordinator, at 
(301) 851-2483; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: National Animal Health Monitoring System; On-Farm Monitoring 
of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in U.S. Broiler Production Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
authorized to protect the health of the livestock, poultry, and 
aquaculture populations in the United States by preventing the 
introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of 
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, and for eradicating such diseases 
and pests from the United States, when feasible. Within the USDA, this 
authority and mission is delegated to the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS).
    In connection with this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal 
Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which collects on a national basis, 
statistically valid and scientifically sound data on the prevalence and 
economic importance of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture disease risk 
factors. APHIS is the only agency responsible for collecting data on 
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture health. NAHMS' studies have evolved 
into a collaborative industry and Government initiative to help 
determine the most effective means of preventing and controlling 
diseases of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture. Participation in any 
NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data are confidential.
    APHIS plans to conduct the On-Farm Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use 
and Resistance in U.S. Broiler Production Study as part of an ongoing 
series of NAHMS studies on the U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture 
populations. This study will support the following objectives: (1) 
Measure and track trends in antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial 
resistance (AMR) in broiler complexes within participating companies 
over time; (2) Evaluate the relationship between AMU patterns and AMR 
measured in select bacterial species collected; and (3) Quantify 
antimicrobial resistance genes in the litter of sampled broiler farms 
and examine the relationship between these quantities and antimicrobial 
use patterns.
    This study is an information collection conducted by APHIS through 
a cooperative agreement with the University of Minnesota. The 
university completed previous work for APHIS under a different 
cooperative agreement in which APHIS received reports and completed 
analyses but not farm-level data. APHIS now seeks access to farm-level 
data that is presented in a manner in which the farms are not 
identified.
    This study will monitor U.S. broiler operations for AMU, AMR, 
animal health and production practices, and the relationship between 
AMU, AMR, animal health, production practices, and changes over time. 
We will collect annual informed consent forms from producers, quarterly 
survey data, and litter samples from the same poultry complexes, and 
examine AMR in bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. This 
study meets objectives for both the U.S. National Action Plan for 
Combating Antibiotic Resistance (2015) and the USDA AMR National Action 
Plan (2013). Additionally, this information is an essential component 
in accomplishing one of APHIS' strategic goals, which is to safeguard 
American agriculture.
    APHIS and the University of Minnesota will analyze and organize the 
information into one or more descriptive reports and scientific 
manuscripts, and for important or special topics, APHIS will develop 
and disseminate targeted information sheets to producers, stakeholders, 
academicians, veterinarians, and any other interested parties. This 
information benefits the poultry industry by supplying scientific 
estimates of AMU and stewardship by poultry producers and evaluation of 
the influence of these and other management practices on AMR.

[[Page 14405]]

    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities 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 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: Broiler producers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 30.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 588.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 866 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 10th day of March 2021.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05360 Filed 3-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P