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[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 210 (Monday, November 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63344-63346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24310]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 26, 2004.
    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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of

[[Page 63345]]

Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), [email protected] or fax (202) 
395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 
7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information 
collections are best assured of having their full effect if received 
within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be 
obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    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 and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: 9 CFR 85 Psuedorabies.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0070.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS), on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, is charged 
with taking actions deemed necessary to prevent the introduction or 
dissemination of any contagious infections or communicable disease of 
animals or poultry from one State or Territory of the United States to 
another. APHIS implements regulations that control and stop the 
escalating spread of pseudorabies, which is a herpes virus disease that 
affects many specifies of animal, but primarily swine. Regulating the 
interstate movement of swine requires the use of certain information 
gathering activities such as permits, certificates, and owner-shipper 
statements to ascertain the health status of the swine.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
by APHIS to monitor the health status of swine being moved, the number 
of swine being moved in a particular shipment, the shipment's point of 
origin, the shipment's destination, and the reason for the interstate 
movement. This information also provides APHIS officials with critical 
information concerning a shipment's history, which in turn enables 
APHIS to engage in swift, successful trace back investigations when 
infected swine are discovered.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Federal government; State, 
local, or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 30,050.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion; 
quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,567.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Scrapie Flock Certification, Animal Identification, and 
Indemnification Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0101.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) regulates the importation and interstate movement of 
animals and animal products, and conducts various other activities to 
protect the health of the Nation's livestock and poultry. Scrapie is a 
progressive, degenerative and eventually fatal disease affecting the 
central nervous system of sheep and goats. Its control is complicated 
because the disease has an extremely long incubation period without 
clinical signs of disease, and there is no test or known treatment for 
the disease. Regulations in 9 CFR part 79 restrict the interstate 
movement of certain sheep and goats to help prevent the spread of 
scrapie. APHIS also has regulations at 9 CFR part 54 for an indemnity 
program to compensate owners of sheep and goats destroyed because of 
scrapie.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using cooperative agreements; applications from owners to participate 
in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program; post-exposure management 
and monitoring plans; scrapie test records; application for indemnity 
payments; certificates, permits, and owner statements for the 
interstate movement of certain sheep and goats; application for 
premises identification numbers; and applications for APHIS-approved 
eartags, back tags, or tattoos. Without this information, APHIS' 
efforts to more aggressively prevent the spread of scrapie would be 
severely hindered.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit; 
State, local, or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 150,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 85,151.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Exotic Newcastle Disease in Birds and Poultry; Chlamydiosis 
in Poultry.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0116.
    Summary of Collection: Velogenic or exotic Newcastle disease (END) 
is the most severe form of Newcastle disease and is foreign to the 
United States. It is one of the most serious diseases of poultry 
throughout the world. The virus also infects and causes disease in wild 
birds including parrots and parakeets. Chlamydiosis is a naturally 
occurring contagious disease that can be highly fatal in young birds. 
Regulations contained in 9 CFR part 82 restrict the interstate movement 
of poultry, birds, and other items (such as eggs, carcasses, vehicles, 
containers, and coops) to help prevent the spread of END and 
chlamydiosis. Disease prevention is the most effective method for 
maintaining a healthy animal population and for enhancing APHIS ability 
to compete in the world market of animals and animal product trade.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
through the use of documents attesting to the health status of the 
birds or poultry being moved, the number and types of birds or poultry 
being moved in a particular shipment, the shipment's point of origin 
and designation, and the reason for the interstate movement. These 
documents provide useful ``trace back'' information in the event an 
infected bird or chicken is discovered and an investigation must be 
launched to determine where the bird or chicken originated. The 
information provided by these documents is critical to APHIS ability to 
prevent the interstate spread of END, which is highly contagious and 
capable of causing significant economic harm to the U.S. poultry 
industry.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; 
individuals or households; farms; State, local, or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 60.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 35.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0128.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant pest and noxious weed from entering 
into the United States and controlling and eradication plant pests in 
the United States. The Plant Protection Act authorizes the Department 
to carry out this mission. Before entering the United States, fruits 
and vegetables are subject to inspection and disinfection at their port 
of first arrival to ensure that no plant pest are inadvertently brought 
into the United States. These precautions, along with other 
requirements, ensure that these items can be imported into the United 
States with minimal risk of

[[Page 63346]]

introducing exotic plant pests such as fruit flies and leek moths.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will use the collected 
information on the Phytosanitary Certificate to determine the pest 
condition of the shipment at the time of inspection in the foreign 
country. The information is also used as a guide to the intensity of 
the inspection that is conducted when the shipment arrives. Without the 
information, all shipments would need to be inspected very thoroughly, 
thereby requiring considerably more time.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; State, 
local, or tribal government; individuals or households; farms; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 501.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Brucellosis in Sheep, Goats, Horses, and Payment of 
Indemnity.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0185.
    Summary of Collection: 21 U.S.C. 111, 115, 118, authorized the 
Secretary of Agriculture to take measures to prevent the introduction 
or dissemination of any contagious or communicable disease of animals 
or live poultry from a foreign country into the United States or from 
one State to another. Disease preventing is the most effective method 
for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) ability to compete in exporting 
animals and animal products. Brucellosis is a contagious disease that 
causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or birth of weak 
offspring, reduced milk production, and infertility. It is mainly a 
disease of cattle, bison, and swine. Sheep, goats, and horses are also 
susceptible, but are rarely infected. There is no economically feasible 
treatment for brucellosis in livestock.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from the use of official seals and animal identification; indemnity 
claims, test records, and permits; and the submission of proof of 
destruction documentation and requests for extension of certain 
program-related deadlines. The information will provide indemnity to 
owners of sheep, goat, or horses destroyed because of brucellosis. 
Without the information, it would make it impossible for APHIS to 
effectively operate an indemnity program for sheep, goats, and horses 
destroyed because of brucellosis.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households; 
Federal government; State, local and tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 4.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Black Stem Rust; Identification Requirements and Addition of 
Rust-Resistant Varieties.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0186.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7701-772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant 
products to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United 
States or their dissemination within the United States. Black stem rust 
is one of the most destructive plant diseases of small grains that are 
known to exist in the United States. The disease is caused by a fungus 
that reduces the quality and yield of infected wheat, oat, barley, and 
rye crops by robbing host plants of food and water.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
prevent the spread of black stem rust by providing for and requiring 
the accurate identification of rust-resistant varieties by inspectors.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 4.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 32.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: NAHMS National Poultry Study 2004.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-NEW
    Summary of Collection: Collection and dissemination of animal 
health and poultry health data and information is mandated by 7 U.S.C. 
391, the Animal Industry Act of 1884, which established the precursor 
of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary 
Services, the Bureau of Animal Industry. The collection, analysis and 
dissemination of animal and poultry health information on a national 
basis are consistent with the APHIS mission of protecting and improving 
American agriculture's productivity and competitiveness. APHIS will be 
conducting the National Poultry 2004 Study, which will consist of three 
separate questionnaires and administered by Federal Veterinary 
technicians. The objectives of the Poultry 2004 Study are to: (1) 
Identify and describe the current population density of backyard 
poultry flocks around commercial operations within States that account 
for a large proportion of U.S. poultry production; (2) assess current 
movement and handling practices among small and large producers that 
could potentially spread poultry disease; (3) identify common movement, 
biosecurity, and cleaning and disinfection practice at live bird 
markets; and (4) disseminate information on the benefits of proper 
biosecurity techniques to poultry owners.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information generated by the 
Poultry 2004 Study will be used to identify the potential impact of 
backyard poultry on commercial poultry facilities and to determine the 
economic consequences of animal disease.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; farms.
    Number of Respondents: 3,750.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,257.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-24310 Filed 10-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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