[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 154 (Friday, August 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54566-54567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17199]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0056]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Importation of Animals 
and Animal Products

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 activities to prevent the introduction of 
bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0056 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-2023-0056, 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.

[[Page 54567]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations to 
prevent the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the 
United States, contact Dr. Alexandra MacKenzie, Senior Veterinary 
Medical Officer, Veterinary Services, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, 
Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3411; 
[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: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Importation of Animals and 
Animal Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0393.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to, among other things, 
prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement of animals 
and animal products into or through the United States to prevent the 
introduction and dissemination of animal diseases and pests.
    To guard against the introduction of animal diseases, the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the importation 
of animals and animal products into the United States. The regulations 
in 9 CFR parts 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96 govern the importation of certain 
animals, birds, poultry, meat, and other animal products and byproducts 
into the United States to prevent the introduction of various animal 
diseases, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a chronic 
degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of cattle.
    Section 92.5 of the regulations provides that all countries of the 
world are considered by APHIS to be in one of three BSE risk 
categories: Negligible risk, controlled risk, or undetermined risk. 
These risk categories are defined in Sec.  92.1. Any region that is not 
classified by APHIS as presenting either negligible risk or controlled 
risk for BSE is considered to present an undetermined risk. Under the 
regulations, APHIS may classify a region for BSE in one of two ways. 
One way is for countries that have not received a risk classification 
from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) \1\ to request 
classification by APHIS. The other way is for APHIS to concur with the 
classification given to a country by WOAH.
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    \1\ The World Organization for Animal Health internationally 
follows a British English spelling of ``organization'' in its name; 
it was formerly the Office International des Epizooties, or OIE, but 
on May 28, 2022, the Organization announced that the acronym was 
changed from OIE to WOAH.
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    To ensure BSE is not introduced into the United States, the 
regulations place specific conditions on the importation of animals and 
animal products. These requirements necessitate the use of several 
information collection activities, including, but not limited to, 
certifications, official identification, request for and retention of 
classification as negligible or controlled risk, declarations of 
importation, import and export certificates, applications, import and 
movement permits, agreements, certification statements, seals, 
notifications, and recordkeeping.
    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 0.639 hours per response.
    Respondents: Shippers, U.S. importers of regulated animal products, 
herd owners, salaried veterinarians of foreign regions, foreign 
exporters of processed animal protein and other regulated materials and 
products, accredited veterinarians, slaughter facility managers, and 
educators and researchers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 150.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 6,922.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,038,336.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 663,778 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 August 2023.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-17199 Filed 8-10-23; 8:45 am]
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