E7-5108. Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Interstate Movement of Swine Within a Production System

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

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 an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the interstate movement of swine within a production system.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 21, 2007.

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-2006-0179 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-2006-0179, 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-2006-0179.

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 sure someone is there to help you, please call [phone] before coming.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information regarding an information collection associated with regulations for the interstate movement of swine within a production system, contact Dr. John Korslund, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone]. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Interstate Movement of Swine Within a Production System.

OMB Number: 0579-0161.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is authorized, among other things, to prevent the introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating such diseases from the United States when feasible. In connection with this mission, APHIS prohibits or restricts the interstate movement of livestock that have, or have been exposed to, certain diseases.

APHIS regulations in title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, chapter I, subchapter C, govern the interstate movement of animals and other articles to prevent the spread of pests and diseases of livestock within the United States.

The regulations in part 71 of subchapter C contain requirements for moving swine interstate within a swine production system. A production system consists of separate farms that each specialize in a different phase of swine production-sow herds, nursery herds, and finishing herds. These separate farms, all members of the same production system, may be located in more than one State. Our regulations facilitate the interstate movement of swine within a single production system while continuing to provide protection against the interstate spread of swine diseases. Moving swine interstate within a swine production system involves the use of two information collection activities: A swine production health plan and an interstate swine movement report.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities 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 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 0.081967 hours per response.

Respondents: Swine producers operating within swine production systems.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,200.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.166.

Estimated annual number of responses: 12,200.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,000 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 15th day of March 2007.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.