[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 53398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-16844]
[[Page 53398]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2026-1354]
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Animal Care; Standards for Birds Not Bred for
Use in Research Under the Animal Welfare Act
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 Animal Welfare Act
regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and
transportation of birds not bred for use in research by dealers,
exhibitors, operators of auction sales, research facilities, carriers
and intermediate handlers.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
October 19, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov.
Enter APHIS-2026-1354 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-2026-1354, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at www.regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is 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 Animal Welfare
Act contact Ms. SaMonia Ford, APHIS, Animal Care, 2150 Centre Avenue,
Building B, 3W11, Fort Collins, CO 80526; 970-494-7478;
[email protected]. For more information on the information
collection reporting process, contact Ms. Sheniqua Harris, APHIS'
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2528 or email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Animal Care; Standards for Birds Not Bred for Use in
Research Under the Animal Welfare Act.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0486.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to
ensure the humane treatment of animals covered by the Animal Welfare
Act, and to promulgate standards and other requirements governing the
humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals
by dealers, exhibitors, operators of auction sales, research
facilities, carriers and intermediate handlers. The Secretary has
delegated responsibility for administering the AWA to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS), Animal Care.
Definitions, regulations, and standards established under the AWA
are contained in 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3 (referred to below as the
regulations). Part 1 contains definitions for terms used in parts 2 and
3. Part 2 provides administrative requirements and sets forth
institutional responsibilities for regulated parties, including
licensing requirements for dealers, exhibitors, and operators of
auction sales. Part 3 provides standards for humane handling, care,
treatment, and transportation of covered animals, and consists of
subparts which contain specific standards for animals covered under the
AWA. Subpart G of Part 3 provides standards for birds not bred for use
in research.
Administering the AWA requires the use of several information
collection activities such as license applications and renewals,
registration applications and updates; annual reports; acknowledgement
of regulations and standards; inspections; requests; notifications;
agreements; plans; written program of veterinary care and health
records; itineraries; applications and permits; records of acquisition,
disposition, or transport of animals; official identification;
variances; protocols; health certificates; complaints; marking
requirements; and recordkeeping.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3
years as they pertain to birds not bred for use in research. APHIS has
amended this information collection by decreasing the number
Respondents, Responses, and Total Burden Hours being reported.
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 0.893 hours per response.
Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-
profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; farms; State, local, or
tribal government officials; and foreign government officials.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 6401.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 24.
Estimated annual number of responses: 150,855.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 134,774 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 14th day of August 2026.
Kelly Moore,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-16844 Filed 8-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P