E7-22742. Notice of Request for Revision and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Scrapie in Sheep and Goats; Interstate Movement Restrictions and Indemnity Program  

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    AGENCY:

    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

    ACTION:

    Revision 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 and extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the interstate movement of sheep and goats and an indemnity program to help prevent the spread of scrapie.

    DATES:

    We will consider all comments that we receive on or before January 22, 2008.

    ADDRESSES:

    You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, select “Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu, then click “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2007-0131 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's “User Tips” link.

    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0131, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0131.

    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 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 Start Printed Page 65559sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.

    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    For information regarding the domestic regulations to help prevent the spread of scrapie, contact Dr. Diane Sutton, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Ruminant Health Programs, NCAHP, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-6188. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Scrapie in Sheep and Goats; Interstate Movement Restrictions and Indemnity Program.

    OMB Number: 0579-0101.

    Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an information collection.

    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the importation and interstate movement of animals and animal products and conducts various other activities to protect the health of our Nation's livestock and poultry.

    Scrapie is a degenerative and eventually fatal disease affecting the central nervous systems of sheep and goats. It is a member of a class of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Its control is complicated because the disease has an extremely long incubation period without clinical signs of disease and because there is no test that can detect the disease early in the incubation period and no known treatment.

    The regulations in 9 CFR part 79 restrict the interstate movement of certain sheep and goats to help prevent the spread of scrapie. APHIS also has regulations at 9 CFR part 54 for an indemnity program to compensate owners of sheep and goats destroyed because of scrapie.

    The scrapie disease control program requires the use of a number of information collection activities, including APHIS forms for inspection and epidemiology data; applications from owners to participate in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program; flock plans; post-exposure management and monitoring plans; scrapie test records; applications for indemnity payments; certificates, permits, and owner statements for the interstate movement of certain sheep and goats; applications for premises identification numbers; and applications for official APHIS-approved eartags, backtags, or tattoos.

    The information provided by these documents is critical to our ability to prevent the interstate spread of scrapie, and therefore plays a vital role in our disease control and eradication efforts.

    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 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 information collection, 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 information collection 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 1.098674842 hours per response.

    Respondents: Flock owners, dealers, market operators, accredited veterinarians, and State animal health authorities.

    Estimated annual number of respondents : 132,059.

    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 4.621169325.

    Estimated annual number of responses: 610,267.

    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 670,485 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.

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    Done in Washington, DC, this 14th day of November 2007.

    Kevin Shea,

    Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

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    [FR Doc. E7-22742 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
11/21/2007
Department:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Revision and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
Document Number:
E7-22742
Dates:
We will consider all comments that we receive on or before January 22, 2008.
Pages:
65558-65559 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0131
PDF File:
E7-22742.Pdf