[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19238-19239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06720]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0025]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Brucellosis and Bovine Tuberculosis: Importation of Cattle 
and Bison

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

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 governing importation of 
cattle and bison, specifically with regard

[[Page 19239]]

to classification of regions at designated status levels for bovine 
tuberculosis and brucellosis, and establishing conditions for the 
importation of cattle and bison from regions with the various 
classifications.

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-2023-0025 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-2023-0025, 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 for 
bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis regionalization and associated 
importation of cattle and bison, contact Dr. Kari Coulson, Import Risk 
Analyst, Regionalization Evaluation Services, VS, APHIS, 920 Main 
Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 480-9876; email: 
[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: Brucellosis and Bovine Tuberculosis: Importation of Cattle 
and Bison.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0442.
    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 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. APHIS' Veterinary Services is the 
program responsible for regulating these importations.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 contain, among other things, 
provisions that address the risk that imported bovines (cattle or 
bison) may introduce or disseminate brucellosis or bovine tuberculosis 
(TB) within the United States. On September 17, 2020, APHIS published 
in the Federal Register (85 FR 57944-57956) a final rule \1\ that 
amended these regulations to establish a system to classify foreign 
regions at designated status levels for bovine TB and brucellosis; to 
establish provisions for modifying the TB or brucellosis classification 
of a foreign region; and to establish conditions for the importation of 
cattle and bison from regions with the various classifications.
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    \1\ To see the final rule, go to www.regulations.gov. Enter 
APHIS-2011-0044 in the Search field.
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    TB is a contagious disease of both animals and humans. Bovine TB, 
caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), can be transmitted from 
livestock to humans and other animals. Brucellosis is an infectious 
disease of animals and humans caused by the bacteria of the genus 
Brucella. The disease is characterized by abortions and impaired 
fertility in its principal animal hosts. Brucellosis is mainly a 
disease of cattle, bison, and swine; Brucella abortus is associated 
with the disease in cattle and bison. There is no economically feasible 
treatment for brucellosis in livestock.
    The activities associated with the regulations include the request 
for regional classification and additional information about a region, 
an application for recognition of regional classification (TB and 
brucellosis), maintaining classification and reclassification, and the 
official identification and certification.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities 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 14.6 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign animal health officials, importers, and 
exporters.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 21.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 62.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 907 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 27th day of March 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06720 Filed 3-30-23; 8:45 am]
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