[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 203 (Monday, October 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72730-72731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23326]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; 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; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by November 
22, 2023 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Scrapie in Sheep and Goats; Interstate Movement Restrictions 
and Indemnity Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0101.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 
2002 is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal 
health. The law gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to 
detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or 
poultry. The Secretary may also prohibit or restrict import or export 
of any such animal or related material if necessary to prevent spread 
of any livestock or poultry pest or disease. The AHPA is contained in 
title X, subtitle E, sections 10401-18 of Public Law 107-171, May 13, 
2002, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Scrapie is a 
progressive, degenerative, and eventually fatal disease affecting the 
central nervous system of sheep and goats. Its control is complicated 
because the disease has an extremely long incubation period without 
clinical signs of disease, and there is no test for the disease and/or 
known treatment. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
restricts the interstate movement of certain sheep and goats to

[[Page 72731]]

help prevent the spread of scrapie within the United States. APHIS has 
regulations at 9 CFR part 54 for an indemnity program to compensate 
owners of sheep and goats destroyed because of scrapie.
    Need and Use of the Information: The regulations necessitate the 
use of a number of information collection activities including, but not 
limited to, applications for participation in the Scrapie Flock 
Certification Program; various plans for infected and source flocks; 
scrapie test records; application for indemnity payments; certificates; 
permits; and applications for APHIS-approved eartags, backtags, or 
tattoos, etc. Without this information, APHIS' efforts to more 
aggressively prevent the spread of scrapie would be severely hindered.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not for 
Profit; and State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 174,851.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 828,878.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Environmental Monitoring Form.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0117.
    Summary of Collection: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is to provide leadership in ensuring the 
health and care of animals and plants, to improve the agricultural 
productivity and competitiveness, and to contribute to the national 
economy and the public health. The National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the regulations of the Council on 
Environmental Quality implement the procedural aspects of NEPA (40 CFR 
1500-1508). APHIS' regulations require APHIS to implement environmental 
monitoring for certain activities conducted for pest and disease, 
control and eradication programs. APHIS Form 2060, Environmental 
Monitoring Form, will be used to collect information concerning the 
effects of pesticide used in sensitive habitats.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information on 
the number of collected samples, description of the samples, the 
environmental conditions at the collection site including wind speed 
and direction, temperature, and topography. The supporting information 
contained on the APHIS form 2060 is vital for interpreting the 
laboratory tests APHIS conducts on its collected samples. If a sample 
was not accompanied by this form, APHIS would have no way of knowing 
from which site the sample was taken. Failure to collect this 
information would prevent APHIS from actively monitoring the effects of 
pesticides in areas where the inappropriate use of these chemicals 
could eventually produce disastrous results for vulnerable habitats and 
species. If information is not collected frequently enough, APHIS' 
ability to effectively monitor chemical residues in the environment is 
compromised.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 11.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 6.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Beef and Ovine Meat from Uruguay and Beef 
from Argentina and Brazil.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0372.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301), is the primary Federal law governing the 
protection of animal health. The law gives the Secretary of Agriculture 
broad authority to detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of 
livestock or poultry. The agency charged with carrying out this disease 
prevention mission is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS). Disease prevention is the most effective method for 
maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing APHIS' ability to 
compete globally in animal and animal product trade. APHIS import 
regulations in sections 9 CFR 94.1, 9 CFR 94.11, and 9 CFR 94.29 place 
certain restrictions on the importation of beef and ovine meat from 
Uruguay into the United States. APHIS must collect information, 
prepared by an authorized certified official of the Government of 
Uruguay, certifying that specific conditions for importation have been 
met.
    Need and Use of the Information: Imports of fresh beef and beef 
products from northern Argentina and from specific regions in Brazil 
must be accompanied by a foreign meat inspection certificate that is 
completed and signed by an authorized veterinary official of the 
Governments of Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. Without the information, 
APHIS would be unable to establish an effective defense against the 
entry and spread of foot-and-mouth disease and other animal diseases 
from Uruguay beef and ovine product imports as well as imports of beef 
and beef products from Argentina and Brazil.
    Description of Respondents: Federal Government; Business or Other 
for Profit.
    Number of Respondents: 13,100.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 18,514.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-23326 Filed 10-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P