[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47893-47894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12139]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0018]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Control and Eradication of African Swine Fever; Conditions 
for Payment of Indemnity Claims

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 payment of indemnity claims related to 
African swine fever.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2024-0018 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-2024-0018, 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 www.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 foreign quarantine 
notices, contact Ms. Lecresha King, Program Analyst, National 
Preparedness and Incident Coordination, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 
920 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; email: 
[email protected]; phone: (515) 380-5535. For more detailed 
information on the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph 
Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2533.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Control and Eradication of African Swine Fever; Conditions 
for Payment of Indemnity Claims.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0491.
    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 Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
authorized to protect the health of the livestock, poultry, and 
aquaculture populations in the United States by preventing the 
introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of 
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, and for eradicating such diseases 
and pests from the United States, when feasible. Within the USDA, this 
authority and mission is delegated to the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS).
    Part of the mission of the Veterinary Services (VS) business unit 
of APHIS is preventing foreign animal disease outbreaks in the United 
States, and monitoring, controlling, and eliminating a disease outbreak 
should one occur. In the past several years, there have been 
significant worldwide outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF). ASF is a 
highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and 
feral (wild) pigs. Herd mortality can reach 100 percent and animals 
contracting the disease can die in as little as a week, necessitating a 
rapid response. The disease is also highly resistant to the 
environment, meaning it can easily be spread by being on clothes, 
shoes, wheels, or other materials, or in pork products. If ASF entered 
the United States, it could halt U.S. pork exports, as trading partners 
would not accept products from a country with ASF; cut pork and hog 
prices by up to 50 percent; and cause widespread disruptions in hog and 
pork production.
    The disease has not been detected in the United States; however, 
USDA is committed to working with State and industry partners to keep 
the virus out of the country. In the event of an ASF detection, USDA 
will declare an extraordinary emergency and establish an animal 
movement standstill to coordinate a national control and eradication 
approach. USDA will work with States and industry to depopulate 
infected premises, compensate affected owners, and institute herd 
plans.
    To accomplish this, APHIS will implement various information 
collection activities related to an outbreak such as processing 
appraisal and indemnity requests and appraisal and indemnity claims, 
assisting with preparing worksheets for calculating proceeds from 
animals or materials sold

[[Page 47894]]

for slaughter, approving domestic herd plans and financial plans, and 
administering an ASF response epidemiology questionnaire.
    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 4.882 hours per response.
    Respondents: Agricultural producers, animal scientists and 
technicians, agricultural inspectors, and State animal health 
officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 40,050.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 13.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 519,950.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,538,300 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 May 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-12139 Filed 6-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P