[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75897-75898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27716]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 14, 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 Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Pamela-- Beverly-- OIRA--
Submission@ OMB.EOP.gov 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: Certificate for Poultry and Hatching Eggs for Export.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0048.
    Summary of Collection: The export of agricultural commodities, 
including poultry and hatching eggs, is a major business in the United 
States and contributes to a favorable balance of trade. As part of its 
mission to facilitate the export of U.S. poultry and poultry products, 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services, maintains information 
regarding the import health requirements of other countries for poultry 
and hatching eggs exported from the U.S. Most countries require a 
certification that our poultry and hatching eggs are disease free. 
Certificate for Poultry and Hatching Eggs for Export is authorized by 
21 U.S.C. 112 and 113 which is used to certify the disease free status 
of poultry and hatching eggs exported from the United States. The 
regulation that implements this law is found in part 91 of title 9, 
Code of Federal Regulations.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will use VS form 17-6, 
Certificate for Poultry & Hatching Eggs for Export, to collect 
information on the quantity and type of poultry and hatching egg 
designated for export. The information collected is necessary to 
satisfy the import requirements of the receiving countries and to 
prevent unhealthy poultry or disease carrying hatching eggs from being 
exported from the United States, thereby protecting and encouraging 
trade with the United States and preventing the international 
dissemination of poultry diseases.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Federal government; State, local 
or tribal government; individuals or households; business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 10,500.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Asian Long Horned Beetle Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0122.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the Department of Agriculture is responsible for 
preventing plant pests and noxious weeds from entering the United 
States, preventing the spread of pests and weeds not widely distributed 
in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests and weeds 
when eradication is feasible. The Plant Protection and Quarantine 
program of APHIS is responsible for implementing the provisions of the 
Act and does so through the enforcement of its domestic quarantine 
regulations in 7 CFR part 301. The Asian Long Horned Beetle (ALB) is a 
destructive pest of hardwood trees that bore into the heartwood of host 
trees eventually killing them. APHIS regulations are designed to 
prevent the spread of the ALB within the United States.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
control and monitor the movement of the Asian Long Horned Beetle using 
several APHIS forms. If the information were not collected, the 
effectiveness of the Asian Long Horned Beetle Quarantine would be 
severely compromised.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for profit; 
State, local or tribal government; individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 475.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 244.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Hass Avocado from Mexico.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0129.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the Department of Agriculture is responsible for 
preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United 
States, preventing 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. 7701-7772) authorizes 
APHIS to carry out this mission. APHIS will collect information from a 
variety of individuals, both within and outside of the United States, 
who are involved in growing, packing, handling, transporting, and 
importing foreign logs, trees, shrubs, and other articles. Currently, 
there are regulations that allow fresh Hass Avocado fruit grown in 
approved orchards in Michoacan, Mexico to be imported into the United 
States under certain conditions.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using forms PPQ 519, ``Compliance Agreement'' and PPQ 587, 
``Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products.'' The 
information collected will ensure that fresh Hass Avocados from Mexico 
do not harbor exotic insect pests.

[[Page 75898]]

    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; State, 
local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,058.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,823.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Collaboration in Animal Health, Food Safety, and 
Epidemiology (CAHFSE) Swine Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Collaboration in Animal and Health and 
Food Safety Epidemiology (CAHFSE) Swine Study, is a joint effort among 
three agencies within the Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS); the Agricultural Research Service 
(ARS); and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The mission 
of this surveillance effort is twofold: to enhance overall 
understanding of bacteria that pose a food-safety risk by tracking 
these bacteria on-farm and through the harvesting process, over time; 
and to provide a means to routinely monitor critical diseases in food-
animal production. To accomplish this mission, APHIS collects on-farm 
samples, FSIS collects slaughter plant data from plant managers, and 
ARS conducts laboratory examination of the samples collected on-farm or 
in-plant. 7 U.S.C. 391, the Animal Industry Act of 1884 and 21 U.S.C. 
119, mandates collection and dissemination of animal and poultry health 
data and information.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using several forms. The collected information from the study will be 
disseminated to veterinary consultants/practitioners, industry and 
producers groups, and academia to monitor antimicrobial resistance and 
to identify problem areas in health management and feeding practices, 
which contribute to disease transmission. Without CAHFSE, the U.S.'s 
ability to detect trends in management, production, and the impact they 
have on animal health and food safety either directly or indirectly 
would be reduced or nonexistent.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Federal government.
    Number of Respondents: 530.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion; 
quarterly; monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,502.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.>
[FR Doc. 04-27716 Filed 12-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P