[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 68581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19207]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0044]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Prohibition on 
Importation of Farm Equipment

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the importation of used farm 
equipment into the United States from regions affected with foot-and-
mouth disease.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 28, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2024-0044 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-2024-0044, 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 foot and mouth 
disease and the prohibition on importation of farm equipment, contact 
Dr. Lisa Dixon, National Director, Animal Product Import and Export, 
Strategy and Policy, Veterinary Services, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, 
MD 20737; (301) 851-3373; email: [email protected]. For more 
information on the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph 
Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2533; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Prohibition on Importation of Farm 
Equipment.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0195.
    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 
U.S. Department of Agriculture 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. The regulations for the importation of 
animals, animal products, and other articles into the United States are 
contained in 9 CFR parts 93 through 98.
    In part 94, Sec.  94.1(c) prohibits the importation of used farm 
equipment into the United States from regions where APHIS considers 
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to exist unless the equipment has been 
steam-cleaned prior to export to the United States so that it is free 
of exposed dirt and other particulate matter. Such equipment must be 
accompanied by an original certificate, signed by an authorized 
official of the national animal health service of the exporting region, 
stating that the farm equipment, after its last use and prior to 
export, was steam-cleaned free of all exposed dirt and other 
particulate matter.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity, 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 0.2 hours per response.
    Respondents: Exporters of farm equipment and foreign animal health 
authorities from regions where FMD exists.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 77.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 390.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 78 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 8th day of August 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-19207 Filed 8-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P