[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 33 (Thursday, February 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9960-9961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02853]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 33 / Thursday, February 20, 2025 /
Notices
[[Page 9960]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0069]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Additional
Testing and Reporting of HPAI in Livestock and Milk
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an information
collection associated with testing of milk from dairy cattle with
reference to the incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in
dairy cattle.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April
21, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov.
Enter APHIS-2024-0069 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-2024-0069, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 2C-10.16, 4700 River Road, Unit 25, 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 APHIS Veterinary
Services' efforts to control and eradicate HPAI in dairy cattle,
contact Dr. Megan Schmid, Assistant Director, Cattle Health Center, VS,
APHIS, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. B, Fort Collins, CO 80524; (512) 745-
9862; email: [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: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Additional Testing
and Reporting of HPAI in Livestock and Milk.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0496.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: 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 animal or related
material if required to prevent the spread of any livestock or poultry
pest or disease. AHPA is contained in title X, subtitle E, sections
10401-10418 of Public Law 107-171, May 13, 2002, the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002; 7 U.S.C. 8301, et seq.
Within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), part of Veterinary Services' mission
is preventing foreign animal disease outbreaks in the United States,
and monitoring, controlling, and eliminating a disease outbreak should
one occur. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a contagious
viral disease of domestic poultry and wild birds. HPAI is deadly to
domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of
days. HPAI is a threat to the poultry industry, animal health, human
health, trade, and the economy worldwide. In the United States, HPAI
H5N1 was detected in dairy cattle in March 2024. As of February 10,
2025, USDA has confirmed 964 HPAI H5N1 detections in 17 States
(California, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota,
Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South
Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming). Additionally, in the last 30 days,
APHIS has also confirmed 149 detections in poultry premises across 15
States.
USDA has already recognized HPAI as a threat, and APHIS already
prohibits the interstate movement of animals infected with HPAI (9 CFR
71.3(b)). This new, distinct HPAI H5N1 virus genotype, infects both
cattle and poultry. The phylogenetic and epidemiological data indicate
spread between dairy premises and from dairy premises to poultry
premises. The virus is shed in milk at high concentrations. Anything
that encounters unpasteurized milk, such as spilled milk, or milk
residue, has the potential to spread the virus to humans or other
animals, and can contaminate vehicles and other objects or materials.
These factors show that this outbreak is having a continuing sizable
economic impact. In response, APHIS has issued two Federal Orders, thus
far.
On April 24, 2024, APHIS issued a Federal Order to assist with
developing a baseline of critical information and limiting the spread
of H5N1 in dairy cattle. The Federal Order requires testing lactating
dairy cattle prior to interstate movement and mandatory reporting from
laboratories of positive influenza A cases in livestock as well as
epidemiological reporting. APHIS has also been working to enhance
ongoing herd surveillance through the HPAI Dairy Herd Status Program,
which has begun using bulk milk testing.
On December 6, 2024, APHIS issued a second Federal Order to assist
with limiting the spread of H5N1. This Federal Order specifically
addresses the spread of the virus through raw milk and adds testing of
raw (unpasteurized) milk to detect and provide data for the control and
eradication of HPAI. Samples are to be collected at facilities that
ship, receive, or transfer milk interstate. Laboratories and State
veterinarians must report positive influenza A nucleic acid detection
results (e.g., polymerase chain reaction or genetic sequencing) in
diagnostic samples obtained from livestock,
[[Page 9961]]
including raw (unpasteurized) milk, to APHIS. APHIS issued this second
Federal Order because, while movement controls implemented under the
earlier Federal Order have had a positive effect on reducing
transmission across State lines, HPAI infections linger in States that
have not been able to institute a widespread bulk milk testing program.
Often the affected farms show no clinical signs. Supporting and
requiring national level bulk milk testing will help States and
producers identify areas where H5N1 is lingering. Owners of herds in
which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement, or herds
identified through mandatory testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk for
pasteurization, will be required to provide epidemiological
information, including animal movement tracing to State animal health
officials for follow up.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities for 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 proposed collection of information is
necessary for the control and/or eradication of HPAI in dairy cattle,
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, use, 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, or other collection techniques or other
technologies.
Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 1.065 hours per response.
Respondents: Dairy cattle producers; State, local, and Tribal
governments; laboratory staff; accredited veterinarians; and other
individuals, as appropriate.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,650.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 35.7.
Estimated annual number of responses: 58,860.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 62,705 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 12th day of February 2025.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02853 Filed 2-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P