03-9407. 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.

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 in support of regulation issued under the Animal Welfare Act governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 16, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket No. 03-039-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 03-039-1. If you use e-mail, address your comment to [e-mail]. Your comment must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in your message and “Docket No. 03-039-1” on the subject line.

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.

APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/​ppd/​rad/​webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information regarding the regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers, contact Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; [phone]. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Animal Welfare.

OMB Number: 0579-0093.

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

Abstract: The regulations in 9 CFR parts 1 through 3 were promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2131 et. seq) to ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of regulated animals under the Act. The Act and regulations are enforced by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The regulations in 9 CFR part 3, subparts A, D, and E cover dogs and cats, nonhuman primates, and marine mammals, respectively. Subpart F of 9 CFR part 3 covers warmblooded animals other than dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, marine mammals, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Regulated facilities are required to keep certain records and provide specific information regarding APHIS' space, transportation, exercise plan, and perimeter fence requirements. We review this information to evaluate program compliance.

The reporting and recordkeeping requirements of 9 CFR part 3, subparts A, D, E, and F do not mandate the use of any official government form.

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 response.

Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.48266615 hours per response.

Respondents: Dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, carriers, and intermediate handlers.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 8,190.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 8.833211233.

Estimated annual number of responses: 72,344.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 34918 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 11th day of April 2003.

Bobby R. Acord,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.