[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 168 (Thursday, September 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49288-49289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18919]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0046]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
Control and Eradication of African Swine Fever; Conditions for Payment 
of Indemnity Claims

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 approval of a new information collection 
associated with the payment of indemnity claims related to African 
swine fever.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2021-0046 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-2021-0046, 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 www.regulations.gov or in our reading room 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 activities 
within this information collection request, contact Ms. Lecresha King, 
Program Analyst, National Preparedness and Incident Coordination, 
Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 
27606; (515) 380-5535. For more detailed information on the information 
collection reporting process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' 
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Control and Eradication of African Swine Fever; Conditions 
for Payment of Indemnity Claims.
    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).
    Within APHIS, part of the mission of Veterinary Services is 
preventing foreign animal disease outbreaks in the United States, and 
monitoring, controlling, and eliminating a disease outbreak should one 
occur. In the past several years, there have been significant worldwide 
outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF). ASF is a highly contagious and 
deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral (wild) pigs. The 
disease has not been detected in the United States; however, APHIS is 
committed to working with State and industry partners to keep the virus 
out of the country.
    As part of APHIS' mission regarding ASF, there are information 
collection activities related to an outbreak such as appraisal and 
indemnity requests and appraisal and indemnity claims, worksheets for 
calculating proceeds from animals or materials sold for slaughter, 
domestic herd plans and financial plans, and an ASF response 
epidemiology questionnaire.

[[Page 49289]]

    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 4.882 hours per response.
    Respondents: Agricultural producers, animal scientists and 
technicians, agricultural inspectors, and State animal health 
officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 40,050.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 13.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 519,950.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,538,300 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 25th day of August 2021.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18919 Filed 9-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P