[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54764-54765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14580]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0020]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; On-Farm Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in 
U.S. Broiler Production Study

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 for continuing the On-Farm Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use 
and Resistance in U.S. Broiler Production Study.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2024-0020 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-2024-0020, 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 On-Farm 
Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in U.S. Broiler 
Production Study, contact Ms. Nia Washington-Plaskett, Program Analyst, 
Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Ave., 
Bldg. B, Fort Collins, CO 80524; (866) 907-8190; email: [email protected] or [email protected]. For more detailed 
information on the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph 
Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2533, 
or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: On-Farm Monitoring of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in 
U.S. Broiler Production Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0481.
    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, equine, poultry, and 
aquaculture populations in the United States by preventing the 
introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of 
livestock, equine, 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).
    In connection with this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal 
Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), which collects on a national basis, 
statistically valid and scientifically sound data on the prevalence and 
economic importance of livestock, equine, poultry, and aquaculture 
disease risk factors. APHIS is the only agency responsible for 
collecting data on livestock, equine, poultry, and aquaculture health. 
NAHMS' studies have evolved into a collaborative industry and 
Government initiative to help determine the most effective means of 
preventing and controlling diseases of livestock, equine, poultry, and 
aquaculture. Participation in any NAHMS study is voluntary, and all 
data are confidential.
    APHIS currently conducts the On-Farm Monitoring of Antimicrobial 
Use

[[Page 54765]]

and Resistance in U.S. Broiler Production Study as part of an ongoing 
series of NAHMS studies on the U.S. livestock, equine, poultry, and 
aquaculture populations. This study supports the following objectives: 
(1) Measure and track trends in antimicrobial use (AMU) and 
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in broiler complexes within 
participating companies over time; (2) Evaluate the relationship 
between AMU patterns and AMR measured in select bacterial species 
collected; and (3) Quantify antimicrobial resistance genes in the 
litter of sampled broiler farms and examine the relationship between 
these quantities and antimicrobial use patterns.
    This study is an information collection being conducted by APHIS 
through a cooperative agreement with the University of Minnesota that 
monitors U.S. broiler operations for AMU, AMR, animal health and 
production practices, the relationship between AMU, AMR, animal health, 
production practices, and changes over time. We will continue 
collecting quarterly survey data and litter samples from the same 
poultry complexes and examine AMR in bacteria such as Salmonella and 
Campylobacter. This study meets objectives for both the U.S. National 
Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (2015 and 2020) 
and the USDA AMR National Action Plan (2014). Additionally, this 
information is an essential component in accomplishing one of APHIS' 
strategic goals, which is to safeguard American agriculture.
    APHIS and the University of Minnesota will continue analyzing and 
organizing the information into one or more descriptive reports and 
scientific manuscripts, and for important or special topics, APHIS will 
continue developing and disseminating targeted information sheets to 
producers, stakeholders, academicians, veterinarians, and any other 
interested parties. This information benefits the poultry industry by 
supplying scientific estimates of AMU and stewardship by poultry 
producers and evaluation of the influence of these and other management 
practices on AMR.
    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 1.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Broiler producers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 30.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 588.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 866 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 25th day of June, 2024.
Donna Lalli,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-14580 Filed 7-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P