This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

5116

Vol. 69, No. 22

Tuesday, February 3, 2004

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

[Docket No. 03–042N] 

Notice of Request for Extension and 

Revision of a Currently Approved 

Information Collection (Application for 

Inspection, Accreditation of 

Laboratories, and Exemptions)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection 

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) regulations, this notice 

announces the Food Safety and 

Inspection Service’s (FSIS) intention to 

request an extension for and revision to 

a currently approved information 

collection package (ICP) regarding 

Application for Inspection, 

Accreditation of Laboratories, and 

Exemptions.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received on or before April 5, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact John O’Connell, Paperwork 

Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety 

and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th 

Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 

20250–3700, (202) 720–0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Application for Inspection, 

Accreditation of Laboratories, and 

Exemptions. 

OMB Number: 0583–0082. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 3/31/

2004. 

Type of Request: Extension and 

revision of a currently approved 

information collection. 

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the 

authority to exercise the functions of the 

Secretary as specified in the Federal 

Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 

601 et seq.), the Poultry Products 

Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et 

seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection 

Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.). 

These statutes mandate that FSIS 

protect the public by taking regulatory 

actions to provide that meat, poultry, 

and egg products are safe, wholesome, 

unadulterated, and properly labeled and 

packaged. 

FSIS is requesting an extension and 

revision to the ICP addressing 

paperwork and recordkeeping 

requirements regarding the application 

for inspection, accreditation of 

laboratories, and exemptions. 

FSIS requires meat, poultry, and 

import establishments to apply for a 

grant of inspection before they can 

receive Federal inspection. FSIS also 

requires establishments that wish to 

receive voluntary inspection to apply 

for inspection. Establishments that wish 

to export or import product most also 

submit certain documents to the 

Agency. 

The Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 

U.S.C. 642), the Poultry Products 

Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 460 (b)), and 

the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 

U.S.C. 1040) require certain parties to 

keep records that fully and correctly 

disclose all transactions involved in 

their businesses related to relevant 

animal carcasses and parts and egg 

products. 

FSIS requires FSIS accredited nonFederal analytical laboratories to 

maintain certain paperwork and 

records. The Agency uses this collected 

information to ensure that all meat and 

poultry establishments produce safe, 

wholesome, and unadulterated product, 

and that non-federal laboratories act in 

accordance with FSIS regulations. 

In addition, FSIS also collects 

information to ensure that meat and 

poultry establishments exempted from 

Agency inspection do not commingle 

inspected and non-inspected meat and 

poultry products, and that 

establishments qualifying for a retail 

store exemption who have violated the 

provision of that exemption are no 

longer in violation. 

Estimate of Burden: The public 

reporting burden for this collection of 

information is estimated to average .03 

hours per response.

Respondents: Official establishments 

and plants; brokers, etc. 

Estimated Number of Respondents:

16,720. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 202. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 114,558. Copies of this 

information collection assessment can 

be obtained from John O’Connell, 

Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, 

Food Safety and Inspection Service, 

USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, 

Washington, DC 20250–3700, (202) 720–

5627, (202) 720–0345. 

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of FSIS’ functions, including whether 

the information will have practical 

utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’ estimate 

of the burden of the proposed collection 

of information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 

and clarity of the information to be 

collected; 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 may be sent to both John 

O’Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act 

Coordinator, at the address provided 

above, and the Desk Officer for 

Agriculture, Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs, Office of 

Management and Budget, Washington, 

DC 20253. 

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. 

Additional Public Notification 

Public awareness of all segments of 

rulemaking and policy development is 

important. Consequently, in an effort to 

better ensure that minorities, women, 

and persons with disabilities are aware 

of this notice, FSIS will announce it and 

make copies of this Federal Register

publication available through the FSIS 

Constituent Update. FSIS provides a 

weekly Constituent Update, which is 

communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail 

subscription service. In addition, the 

update is available on-line through the 

Internet at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.

The update is used to provide 

information regarding FSIS policies, 

procedures, regulations, Federal 

Register notices, FSIS public meetings, 

recalls, and any other types of 

information that could affect or would 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 22 / Tuesday, February 3, 2004 / Notices 5117

be of interest to our constituents/

stakeholders. The constituent Listserv 

consists of industry, trade, and farm 

groups, consumer interest groups, allied 

health professionals, scientific 

professionals, and other individuals that 

have requested to be included. Through 

the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able 

to provide information to a much 

broader, more diverse audience. 

For more information contact the 

Congressional and Public Affairs Office, 

at (202) 720–9113. To be added to the 

free e-mail subscription service 

(Listserv) go to the ‘‘Constituent 

Update’’ page on the Internet at http://

www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update/

update.htm. Click on the ‘‘Subscribe to 

the Constituent Update Listserv’’ link, 

then fill out and submit the form.

Done at Washington, DC, on January 29, 

2004. 

Garry L. McKee, 

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 04–2136 Filed 2–2–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

[Docket No. 03–043N] 

Notice of Request for Extension of a 

Currently Approved Information 

Collection (Procedures for Notification 

of New Technology)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection 

Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) regulations, this notice 

announces the Food Safety and 

Inspection Service’s (FSIS) intention to 

request an extension for a currently 

approved information collection 

package (ICP) regarding Procedures for 

Notification of New Technology.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received on or before April 5, 2004. 

Additional Information or Comments:

Contact John O’Connell, Paperwork 

Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety 

and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th 

Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 

20250–3700, (202) 720–0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Procedures for Notification of 

New Technology. 

OMB Number: 0583–0127. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 2/29/

2004. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the 

authority to exercise the functions of the 

Secretary as specified in the Federal 

Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 

601 et seq.), the Poultry Products 

Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451 et 

seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection 

Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.). 

These statutes mandate that FSIS 

protect the public by taking regulatory 

actions to provide that meat, poultry, 

and egg products are safe, wholesome, 

unadulterated, and properly labeled and 

packaged. 

FSIS is requesting an extension to the 

ICP addressing paperwork and 

recordkeeping requirements regarding 

the procedures for notification of new 

technology. 

FSIS has established procedures for 

notifying the Agency of any new 

technology intended for use in official 

establishments and plants. To follow the 

procedures, establishments, plants, and 

firms that manufacture and sell 

technology to official establishments 

and plants notify the Agency by 

submitting documents describing the 

operation and purpose of the new 

technology. The documents should 

explain why the new technology will 

not: adversely affect the safety of the 

product, jeopardize the safety of Federal 

inspection personnel, interfere with 

inspection procedures, or require a 

waiver to a regulation. In addition, if the 

new technology could adversely affect 

the safety of the product, jeopardize the 

safety of Federal inspection personnel, 

interfere with inspection procedures, or 

require a waiver to a regulation, 

submitters are to provide a protocol for 

an in-plant trial as part of a pre-use 

review. FSIS expects the submitter of a 

protocol to provide data to the Agency 

throughout the duration of the in-plant 

trial. 

Estimate of Burden: The public 

reporting burden for this collection of 

information is estimated to average 25 

hours per response. 

Respondents: Official establishments 

and plants; firms that manufacture or 

sell technology. 

Estimated Number of Respondents:

290. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 8,400. Copies of this 

information collection assessment can 

be obtained from John O’Connell, 

Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, 

Food Safety and Inspection Service, 

USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, 

Washington, DC 20250–3700, (202) 720–

5627, (202) 720–0345. 

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of FSIS’ functions, including whether 

the information will have practical 

utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’ estimate 

of the burden of the proposed collection 

of information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 

and clarity of the information to be 

collected; 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 may be sent to both John 

O’Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act 

Coordinator, at the address provided 

above, and the Desk Officer for 

Agriculture, Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs, Office of 

Management and Budget, Washington, 

DC 20253. 

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. 

Additional Public Notification 

Public awareness of all segments of 

rulemaking and policy development is 

important. Consequently, in an effort to 

better ensure that minorities, women, 

and persons with disabilities are aware 

of this notice, FSIS will announce it and 

make copies of this Federal Register

publication available through the FSIS 

Constituent Update. FSIS provides a 

weekly Constituent Update, which is 

communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail 

subscription service. In addition, the 

update is available on-line through the 

Internet at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.

The update is used to provide 

information regarding FSIS policies, 

procedures, regulations, Federal 

Register notices, FSIS public meetings, 

recalls, and any other types of 

information that could affect or would 

be of interest to our constituents/

stakeholders. The constituent Listserv 

consists of industry, trade, and farm 

groups, consumer interest groups, allied 

health professionals, scientific 

professionals, and other individuals that 

have requested to be included. Through 

the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able 

to provide information to a much 

broader, more diverse audience. 

For more information contact the 

Congressional and Public Affairs Office, 

at (202) 720–9113. To be added to the 

free e-mail subscription service 

(Listserv) go to the ‘‘Constituent