[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18514-18516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06471]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0008]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All Subtypes, and 
Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions (Pet, Performing, and 
Research Birds; Bird Carcasses)

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

[[Page 18515]]


ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with the regulations to prevent the introduction 
of highly pathogenic avian influenza, all subtypes, and Newcastle 
disease into the United States through the importation of pet, 
performing, and research birds and poultry, and unprocessed bird and 
poultry products, mainly bird carcasses.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
30, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0008 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-2023-0008, 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 regulations to 
prevent the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza and 
Newcastle disease, contact Dr. Bettina Helm, Senior Staff Veterinary 
Medical Officer, Live Animal Imports, Strategy & Policy, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3300; 
[email protected]. For 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: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All Subtypes, and 
Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions (Pet, Performing, and 
Research Birds; Bird Carcasses).
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0245.
    Type of Request: 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 (USDA) 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. 
To carry out this mission, APHIS regulates the importation of animals 
and animal products into the United States. The regulations for the 
importation of animals and animal products are contained in 9 CFR parts 
92 through 98.
    The regulations in parts 93, 94, and 95 govern the importation of 
specified animals and animal products and byproducts to prevent the 
introduction of various animal diseases, including highly pathogenic 
avian influenza (HPAI), all subtypes, and Newcastle disease.
    HPAI, as defined in Sec.  94.0, is an infectious and fatal disease 
of poultry. HPAI can strike poultry quickly without any warning signs 
of infection, and once established, can spread rapidly from flock to 
flock. HPAI viruses can be spread by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg 
flats, crates, and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact 
with the viruses. In addition, HPAI viruses can remain viable at 
moderate temperatures for long periods in the environment and can 
survive indefinitely in frozen material. One gram of contaminated 
manure can contain enough virus to infect 1 million poultry.
    Newcastle disease is a contagious disease of birds and poultry 
caused by a paramyxovirus. Newcastle disease, as defined in Sec.  94.0, 
is one of most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. A death 
rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. 
Newcastle disease can also infect and cause death even in vaccinated 
birds and poultry.
    APHIS' regulations prohibit or restrict the importation of 
unprocessed bird and poultry products and byproducts from regions that 
have reported the presence of HPAI or Newcastle disease and contain 
permit and quarantine requirements for U.S. origin pet birds and 
performing or theatrical birds and poultry returning to the United 
States. In addition, there are also restrictions concerning importation 
of live poultry and birds that have been vaccinated for certain types 
of avian influenza or that have moved through or originate from regions 
where HPAI or Newcastle disease is considered to exist. These 
regulations require the use of several information collection 
activities, including various APHIS forms, application of seals, 
agreements, notarized declarations or affirmations, notification of 
signs of disease in a recently imported bird, cooperative service 
agreements, and recordkeeping by processing establishments.
    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 0.529 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign federal government officials and owners of 
U.S.-origin pet birds and performing or theatrical birds or poultry 
returning to the United States, and U.S. importers of bird and poultry 
carcasses, parts, products and byproducts of birds and poultry and eggs 
(other than hatching eggs) from certain regions.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 936.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 4.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,429.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,814 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.


[[Page 18516]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of March 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06471 Filed 3-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P