2014-25628. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 23, 2014.

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.

Comments regarding this information collection received by November 28, 2014 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. 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: Virus-Serum-Toxin Act and Regulations in 9 CFR, Subchapter E, Parts 101-124.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0013.

Summary of Collection: The Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (37 Stat. 832-833, 21 U.S.C. 151-159) gives the United States Department of Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) the authority to promulgate regulations designed to prevent the importation, preparation, sale, or shipment of harmful veterinary biological products. A veterinary biological product is defined as all viruses, serums, toxins, and analogous products of natural or synthetic origin (such as vaccines, antitoxins, or the immunizing components of microorganisms intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases in domestic animals). In order to effectively implement the licensing, production, labeling, importation, and other requirements, APHIS employs a number of information gathering tools such as establishment license applications, product license applications, product permit applications, product and test report forms and field study summaries, stop distribution and sale notifications, and recordkeeping.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS uses the information collected as a primary basis for the approval or acceptance of issuing licenses or permits to ensure veterinary biological products that are used in the United States are pure, safe, potent, and effective. Failing to collect this information would severely cripple APHIS' ability to prevent harmful veterinary biologics from being distributed in the United States.

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

Number of Respondents: 220.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 74,382.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

Title: Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0332.

Summary of Collection: Section 901-905 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901) authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to issue guidelines for regulating the commercial transportation of horses to slaughter, including assembly points, feedlots, and stockyards, by person regularly engaged in that activity within the United States. Specifically, the Secretary is authorized to regulate the food, water, and rest provided to these horses while they are in transit; and to review other related issues that may be appropriate to ensuring that these animals are treated humanely. To implement the provisions of this Act, the Veterinary Services program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established minimum standards to ensure the humane movement of horses for slaughter.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information in the form of an owner-shipper certificate; collection of employment information on any person found to be transporting horses to a slaughtering facility; and recordkeeping. The collected information is use to ensure that horses being transported to slaughter receive adequate food, water, and rest and are treated humanely. If the information was collected less frequently or not collected, APHIS' ability to ensure that horses destined for slaughter are treated humanely would be significantly hampered.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.

Number of Respondents: 300.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 9,803.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.