[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 170 (Friday, September 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54187-54188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18967]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2022-0050]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Animal Welfare

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 
intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the Animal Welfare Act 
regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of certain animals by dealers, exhibitors, operators of 
auction sales, research facilities, carriers, and intermediate 
handlers.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 1, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2022-0050 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-2022-0050, 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

[[Page 54188]]

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 Animal Welfare 
Act regulations, contact Dr. Lance Bassage, Director, National Policy 
Staff, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
phone: (970) 494-7478; email: [email protected]. For detailed 
information on the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph 
Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator; phone: (301) 851-
2483; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Animal Welfare.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0036.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et 
seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to promulgate 
standards and other requirements governing the humane handling, care, 
treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, 
exhibitors, operators of auction sales, research facilities, carriers, 
and intermediate handlers. The Secretary has delegated responsibility 
for administering the AWA to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care.
    Definitions, regulations, and standards established under the AWA 
are contained in 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3 (referred to below as the 
regulations). Part 1 contains definitions for terms used in parts 2 and 
3. Part 2 provides administrative requirements and sets forth 
institutional responsibilities for regulated parties, including 
licensing requirements for dealers, exhibitors, and operators of 
auction sales. Part 3 provides standards for the humane handling, care, 
treatment, and transportation of covered animals, and consists of 
subparts A through E, which contain specific standards for dogs and 
cats, guinea pigs and hamsters, rabbits, nonhuman primates, and marine 
mammals, respectively, and subpart F, which sets forth general 
standards for warmblooded animals not otherwise specified in part 3.
    Administering the AWA requires the use of information collection 
activities such as license applications and renewals; registration 
applications and updates; annual reports; acknowledgement of 
regulations and standards; inspections; requests; notifications; 
agreements; plans; written program of veterinary care and health 
records; itineraries; applications and permits; records of acquisition, 
disposition, or transport of animals; official identification; 
variances; protocols; health certificates; complaints; marking 
requirements; and recordkeeping. These activities provide APHIS with 
the data necessary for the review and evaluation of program compliance 
by regulated facilities and provide a workable enforcement system to 
carry out the requirements of the AWA and the intent of Congress 
without resorting to more detailed and stringent regulations and 
standards that could be more burdensome to regulated facilities.
    The information collection activities listed above include 
activities merged from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control 
numbers 0579-0470 (Animal Welfare; Amendments to Licensing Provisions 
and to Requirements for Dogs) and 0579-0479 (Animal Welfare; Handling 
of Animals; Contingency Plans). After OMB approves this combined 
information collection (OMB control number 0579-0036), APHIS will 
retire OMB control numbers 0579-0470 and 0579-0479.
    We are asking 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 0.55 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-
profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; farms; State, local, or 
Tribal government officials; and foreign government officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 47,413.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 16.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 779,579.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 424,571 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 29th day of August 2022.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-18967 Filed 9-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P