2020-24105. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 27, 2020.

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 are requested regarding; 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 30, 2020 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

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: Export Certification, Accreditation of Non-Government Facilities.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0130.

Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United States, as well as, the spread of pests not widely distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported when eradication is feasible. The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. In addition to its mission, APHIS provides export certification services to ensure other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving from the United States are free of plant diseases and insect pests.

Need and Use of the Information: The accreditation process requires the use of several information activities to ensure that nongovernment facilities applying for accreditation processes the necessary qualifications. APHIS will collect information for applications submitted by operator/owner of a non-government facility seeking accreditation to conduct laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection. The application should contain the legal name and full address of the facility, the name, address, telephone and fax numbers of the facility's operator, a description of the facility, and a description of the specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection services for which the facility is seeking accreditation. If these activities are not conducted properly, APHIS export certification program would be compromised, causing a disruption in plant and plant product exports that could prove financially damaging to U.S. exporters.

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

Number of Respondents: 9.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 209.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: South American Cactus Moth; Quarantine and Regulations.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0337.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701—et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant pests to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or their dissemination within the United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulations, “Subpart-South American Cactus Moth” (7 CFR part 301.55 through 301.55-9), restrict the interstate movement of regulated articles from quarantined areas into or through non-quarantined areas within the United States.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information using limited permits, Federal certificates, and compliance agreements. The limited permits are used to authorize movement of regulated articles that are not certifiable to specified destination for processing, treatment, or utilization. Federal certificates are used for domestic movement of treated articles relating to quarantines, and are issued for regulated articles when an inspector or other person authorized to issue certificates finds that the articles have met the conditions of the regulations and may be safely moved interstate without further restrictions. Compliance agreements are provided for the convenience of persons who are involved in the growing, handling, or moving of regulated articles from quarantined areas. Without this information, APHIS could not provide an effective domestic quarantine program to prevent the artificial spread of the South American cactus moth within the United States.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; and State government officials.

Number of Respondents: 6.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 16.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0338.

Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act 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 regulations in 9 CFR part 80 pertain specifically to the interstate movement of domestic animals that are positive to an official test for Johne's disease. These 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. However, they may also be moved for purposes other than slaughter under certain conditions. Moving Johne's-positive livestock interstate for slaughter or for other purposes without increasing the risk of disease spread requires a movement permit or an owner-shipper statement, official ear tags, and a permission to move request. Permission may also be sought, in writing, for movement of animals that do not have a permit, owner-shipper statement, or ear tags.

Need and Use of the Information: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will collect information using form VS 1-27, Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals, Official Ear Tags, and Request for Permission to Move. APHIS will collect the following information from formVS-127: (1) The number of animals to be moved; (2) the species of the animals; (3) the points of origin and destination, and (4) the names and addresses of the consignor and the consignee. Failing to collect this information would greatly hinder the control of Johne's disease and possible lead to increased prevalence.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Accredited Veterinarians.

Number of Respondents: 6.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 9.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.