2012-5326. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 29, 2012.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

Title: Emergency Management Response System (EMRS).

OMB Control Number: 0579-0071.

Summary of Collection: 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 necessary to prevent the spread of any livestock or poultry pest or disease. Through the Foreign Animal Disease Surveillance Program, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) compiles essential epidemiological and diagnostic data that are used to define foreign animal diseases (FAD) and their risk factors. The data is compiled through the Veterinary Services Emergency Management Response System, a web-based database for reporting investigations of suspected FAD occurrences.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS collects information such as the purpose of the diagnostician's visit to the site, the name and address of the owner/manager, the type of operation being investigated, the number of and type of animals on the premises, whether any animals have been moved to or from the premises and when this movement occurred, number of sick or dead animals, the results of physical examinations of the affected animals, the results of postmortem examinations, and the number and kinds of samples taken, and the name of the suspected disease. APHIS uses the collected information to effectively prevent FAD occurrences and protect the health of the United States.

Without the information, APHIS has no way to detect and monitor foreign animal disease outbreaks in the United States.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 471.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 1,884.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0264.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to regulate the importation of plants, plant products, and other articles to prevent the introduction of injurious plant pests. Regulations contained in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 319 (Subpart-Fruit and Vegetables), Sections 319.56 et seq. implement the intent of this Act by prohibiting or restricting the importation of certain fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of fruit flies and other injurious plant pests that are new to the United States or not widely distributed within the United States. These regulations are enforced by the Plant Protection and Quarantine, a program with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Need and Use of the Information: The use of certain information collection activities including phytosanitary certificates, fruit fly monitoring records, and cooperative agreements will be used to allow the entry of certain fruits and vegetables into the United States. Without the information all shipment would need to be inspected very thoroughly, thereby requiring considerably more time and would slow the clearance of international shipments.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 15.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 123.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.