[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53805-53806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27425]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-087-1]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection
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 approval for additional hours associated with a
currently approved information collection in support of the National
Animal Health Monitoring System's Beef '97 and Equine '98 national
studies.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 15, 1997 to
be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of burden estimate,
ways to minimize the burden (such as through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology), or any
other aspect of this collection of information to: Docket No. 97-087-1,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please send an original and
three copies, and state that your comments refer to Docket 97-087-1.
Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing
to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For information regarding the National Animal
Health Monitoring System, contact Ms. Marj Swanson, Program Specialist,
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 555 S. Howes,
Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80521; (970) 490-7978. For copies of more
detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Cheryl
Jenkins, APHIS'' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-5360.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Animal Health Monitoring System (Beef 1997 and
Equine 1998).
OMB Number: 0579-0079.
Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.
Type of Request: Addendum to increase hours of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The primary objective of the National Animal Health
Monitoring System (NAHMS) program of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) is to deliver statistically-valid and
scientifically-sound animal health information to consumers, animal
health officials, private practitioners, animal industry groups, policy
makers, public health officials, media, educational institutions, and
others.
Information for the NAHMS Equine '98 study will be derived from
data voluntarily collected on a national basis from people involved in
the equine (horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules) industry. The
information collected will be used to estimate risk factors for
regional and national prevalence of specific pathogens; support the
industry goal of providing optimal health care for equids by
determining current practices in health management; provide baseline
estimates of equine health conditions; provide information on mortality
and morbidity as it relates to body system categories such as
respiratory disease, colic, and lameness; and determine the cost of the
disease.
Information for the NAHMS Beef '97 study will be derived from data
voluntarily collected on a national basis from producers in the beef
cow/calf industry. The information collected is used to identify
baseline trends in health management practices and disease, determine
risks for new and emerging animal health issues, and assess the
economic importance of beef cow/calf health and disease.
After pretesting the Beef '97 forms, it was determined that the
actual amount of time needed to complete one of the forms was greater
than expected and that five new forms were needed to collect additional
data on breeding, herd management, and biosecurity practices. Eleven
new forms were identified through the needs assessment phase for Equine
'98. These forms will be used to collect biological samples and data on
management practices, biosecurity, general health, and cost of disease.
The figures below represent the recalculated burden.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
the use of this information collection activity.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our
[[Page 53806]]
information collection. We need this outside input to help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed 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
proposed 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 reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average .5422 hours per response.
Respondents: Animal agricultural producers, veterinary
practitioners, and animal related industries.
Estimated number of respondents: 10,843.
Estimated number of responses per respondent: 3.2295.
Estimated annual number of responses: 35,018.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 18,987 hours. (Due to
rounding, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of
the annual number of responses multiplied by the average 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 9th day of October 1997.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27425 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
