[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72990-72991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23450]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0072]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and 
Poultry Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological Animals

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 importation of animals and 
poultry, animal and poultry products, certain animal embryos, semen, 
and zoological animals.

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

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0072 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-2023-0072, 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 animals and 
poultry, animal and poultry products, certain animal embryos, and 
zoological animals, contact Dr. Alexandra MacKenzie, Senior Veterinary 
Medical Officer, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 851-3411; [email protected]. For more 
information about the information collection process, contact Mr. 
Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-
2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and Poultry 
Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological Animals.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0040.
    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 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among 
other things, to prohibit or restrict the importation of animals, 
animal products, and other articles into the United States to prevent 
the introduction of animal diseases and pests. Disease prevention is 
the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population 
and for enhancing APHIS' ability to compete in the world market of 
animal and animal product trade.
    Among other things, APHIS' Veterinary Services is responsible for 
preventing the introduction of foreign or certain other communicable 
animal diseases into the United States and for rapidly identifying, 
containing, eradicating, or otherwise mitigating such diseases when 
feasible. In connection with this mission, APHIS collects information 
from individuals, businesses, and farms that are involved with 
importation of animals or poultry, animal or poultry products, or 
animal germplasm (semen, oocytes, embryos, and cloning tissues, as well 
as eggs for

[[Page 72991]]

hatching) into the United States, as well as from foreign countries and 
States to support these imports. Some of the information collection 
activities include agreements, permits, application and space 
reservation requests, inspections, registers, declarations of 
importation, requests for hearings, daily logs, additional 
requirements, application for permits, import health certificates, 
letters, written notices, daily record of horse activities, written 
requests, opportunities to present views, reporting, applications for 
approval of facilities, certifications, arrival notices, on-hold 
shipment notifications, reports, test submission forms, quarantine 
documents, affidavits, animal identification, written plans, 
checklists, specimen submissions, emergency action notifications, 
refusal of entry and order to dispose of fish, premises information, 
recordkeeping, and application of seals.
    In addition, APHIS evaluates the animal health statuses of foreign 
regions and evaluates the risk of disease introduction via commodities 
to allow for the importation of animals and animal-related commodities 
into the United States by receiving and evaluating information 
collection activities. These information collection activities include 
recognition of the animal health status of a region, applications for 
recognition of the animal health status of a region, applications for 
recognition of a region as historically free of a disease, requests for 
additional information about the region, appeals of classifications of 
animal health status, and written recommendations and proof of 
implementation from foreign animal health authorities seeking to engage 
in the regionalization process.
    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 0.76 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign animal health authorities; U.S. importers; 
foreign exporters; veterinarians and animal health technicians in other 
countries; State animal health authorities; shippers, owners and 
operators of foreign processing plants and farms; USDA-approved zoos, 
laboratories, and feedlots; private quarantine facilities; and other 
entities involved (directly or indirectly) in the importation of 
animals and poultry, animal and poultry products, zoological animals, 
and animal germplasm.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 73,769.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 11.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 795,301.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 600,320 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 16th day of October 2023.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-23450 Filed 10-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P