[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34634-34635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12249]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2022-0026]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; National Animal Health Reporting System

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

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 
(APHIS') intention to request a revision to and extension of approval 
of an information collection associated with APHIS' National List of 
Reportable Animal Diseases National Animal Health Reporting System.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 8, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2022-0026 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-2022-0026, 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 more information on the National 
Animal Health Reporting System, contact Mr. William Kelley, Assistant 
Director, Program Coordination & Implementation, Center for 
Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building 
B, MS 2E6, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-7270; 
[email protected]. For information about the information collection 
process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act 
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: National Animal Health Reporting System.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0299.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
authorized, among other things, to prohibit or restrict the importation 
and interstate movement of animals and other articles to prevent the 
introduction and interstate spread of livestock diseases and to 
eradicate such diseases from the United States when feasible. In 
connection with this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal Health 
Reporting System (NAHRS), which collects, on a national basis, monthly 
data from State veterinarians on the presence or absence of diseases of 
interest to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).\1\
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    \1\ On May 28, 2022, the World Organization for Animal Health 
announced a change to its acronym from OIE to WOAH to match its full 
name. See https://www.woah.org/en/the-world-organisation-for-animal-health-launches-its-refreshed-brand-identity/.
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    As a member country of WOAH, the United States must submit reports 
to WOAH on the status of certain diseases in specific livestock, 
poultry, and aquaculture species. Reportable diseases are diseases that 
have the potential for rapid spread, irrespective of national borders, 
that are of serious socioeconomic or public health consequence, and 
that are of major importance in the international trade of animals and 
animal products. The potential benefits to trade of accurate reporting 
on the health status of the U.S. commercial livestock, poultry, and 
aquaculture industries include expansion of those industries into new 
export markets and preservation of existing markets through increased 
confidence in quality and disease freedom. This data collection is 
unique in terms of the type, quantity, and frequency because no other 
entity is collecting and reporting data to WOAH on the health status of 
U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture. Information collected from 
the States include monthly NAHRS 1 reports and National List of 
Reportable Animal Diseases NAHRS 2 emerging disease reporting forms, 
and from the private sector, National Veterinary Services Laboratories 
(NVSL) 201 requests for information from U.S. testing

[[Page 34635]]

laboratories engaged in the testing of animals for SARS CoV-2.
    The NAHRS 2 and NVSL 201 burden, which is currently under Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number 0579-0476 (SARS-CoV-2 
Testing in Animals Reporting Activities), is being merged into this 
collection (0579-0299). Upon renewal of this information collection 
request, 0579-0476 will be discontinued.
    We are asking 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 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 4.27 hours per response.
    Respondents: State and private veterinarians and animal scientists.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 77.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,548.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 6,615 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 2nd day of June 2022.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-12249 Filed 6-6-22; 8:45 am]
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