[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18110-18111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06301]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 58 / Monday, March 27, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 18110]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0018]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Blood and Tissue Collection and Recordkeeping 
at Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved Livestock Marketing 
Establishments and Facilities

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 regulations governing 
approval and maintenance of livestock marketing establishments and 
facilities, withdrawal or denial of livestock marketing facilities and 
slaughtering and rendering facilities, and blood and tissue collection 
and recordkeeping at these facilities.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
26, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0018 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-2023-0018, 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 regulations 
governing livestock markets and slaughtering and rendering 
establishments, contact Dr. Michael Carter, Commodity Policy Advisor, 
Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 
851-3510; [email protected]. For more 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: Blood and Tissue Collection and Recordkeeping at 
Slaughtering, Rendering, and Approved Livestock Marketing 
Establishments and Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0212.
    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 and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to 
prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement of animals 
and animal products to prevent the introduction into and dissemination 
within the United States of livestock diseases and pests. APHIS carries 
out this prevention and eradication mission through the animal disease 
surveillance and testing carried out by its Veterinary Services (VS) 
program using procedures and agreements prescribed in 9 CFR part 71.
    Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a 
healthy animal population and for enhancing the United States' ability 
to compete in international animal and animal product trade. A key 
element of this approach is the restricted interstate movement of 
livestock within the United States to mitigate the spread of diseases, 
allowing APHIS to use livestock movement records to conduct disease 
surveillance to protect the health of livestock and poultry 
populations. Epidemiological data from blood and tissue sampling is 
used to assess the prevalence of disease and to identify its source. 
Coupled with animal identification, blood and tissue test results are 
used to trace the movement of an animal that tests positive and 
identify other animals it may have encountered that may also be 
diseased.
    When a disease is suspected in a given area, sampling is used to 
determine its presence or absence and to estimate the incidence or 
prevalence if it is present. The amount of sampling may increase in 
selected areas when a disease outbreak is suspected, then be reduced in 
that area when sufficient tests have been done to prove the suspicion 
was unfounded or, if found, after the disease is eradicated. Sampling 
is also used to provide data for new or updated risk analyses in 
support of disease control programs, and, as required, opening 
international markets for animal products.
    The regulations in Sec. Sec.  71.20 and 71.21 authorize APHIS to 
conduct disease surveillance and blood and tissue sampling activities 
using Livestock Facility Agreements and Listing Agreements between 
APHIS and owners and operators of slaughtering and rendering 
establishments and livestock marketing facilities. APHIS requires all 
livestock facilities that enter into Approval of Livestock Facility 
Agreements (which are voluntary) to agree to inspection, and to record 
animal identification, make timely notifications, and take other 
actions that facilitate tracking animal movements and identifying 
possible disease occurrences. In addition, APHIS requires all 
slaughtering and rendering establishments that receive livestock or 
poultry interstate to enter Listing Agreements that permit the Agency 
to conduct blood and tissue sampling at the facilities. These 
Agreements are critical during disease outbreaks as they reduce delays 
in assessments and, subsequently, disease spread. Facilities must also 
agree to inspection and compliance reviews. Denial or involuntary 
withdrawal from a facility or listing agreement may be appealed. 
Additional information collection activities include providing 
schedules

[[Page 18111]]

of sale days, posting of quarantine signs, and maintaining certain 
records.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (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 0.23 hours per response.
    Respondents: State animal health officials, accredited 
veterinarians, and livestock marketing, slaughtering, and rendering 
establishment owners and employees.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,914.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 8.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 15,051.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,352 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 21st day of March 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06301 Filed 3-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P