E5-3463. Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals; Interstate Movement

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 the regulations for the interstate movement of animals affected with Johne's disease.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 30, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/​feddocket to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered EDOCKET, click on the “View Open APHIS Dockets” link to locate this document.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 05-043-1, 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. 05-043-1.

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: You may view APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/​ppd/​rad/​webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information regarding regulations for the interstate movement of animals affected with Johne's disease, contact Dr. Michael Carter, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Ruminant Health Programs, 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: Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals; Interstate Movement.

OMB Number: 0579-0148.

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

Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for, among other things, preventing the spread of serious communicable animal diseases (such as Johne's disease) from one State to another, and for eradicating such diseases from the United States when feasible.

Johne's disease, also known as paratuberculosis, is caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and primarily affects cattle, sheep, goats, and other domestic, exotic, and wild ruminants. The disease is a chronic and contagious enteritis that results in progressive wasting and eventual death. It is nearly always introduced into a healthy herd by an infected animal that is not showing symptoms of the disease.

The regulations in title 9, chapter I, subchapter C of the Code of Federal Regulations govern the interstate movement of animals to prevent the dissemination of livestock and poultry diseases in the United States. Within subchapter C, part 71 contains general provisions for the interstate transportation of animals, poultry, and animal products, while part 80 pertains specifically to the interstate movement of domestic animals that are positive to an official test for Johne's disease.

Our regulations provide that cattle, sheep, goats, and other domestic animals that are positive to an official test for Johne's disease may generally be moved interstate only to a recognized slaughtering establishment or to an approved livestock facility for sale to such an establishment. The animals must bear an official eartag and be shipped with an owner-shipper statement.

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 this information collection activity. These comments will help us:

(1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for the proper performance of our agency's functions, 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, or other collection technologies, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Estimate of burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.20 hours per response.

Respondents: Herd owners, shippers, and State representatives.

Estimated number of respondents: 250.

Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1.

Estimated annual number of responses: 250.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 50 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 27th day of June 2005.

Elizabeth E. Gaston,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.