[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70896-70897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29254]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0092]


Notice of Revision and Request for Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Johne's Disease

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision and extension of approval of an information 
collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to revise an information collection associated with the 
interstate movement of animals affected with Johne's disease and to 
request extension of approval of the information collection to protect 
the U.S. animal population.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 
http:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov[sol]fdmspublic[sol]component[sol]main
?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2010-0092 to submit or view comments and to 
view supporting and related materials available electronically.
    <bullet> Postal Mail[sol]Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy 
of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2010-0092, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2010-0092.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of 
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at 
http:[sol][sol]www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the interstate 
movement of animals affected with Johne's Disease, contact Dr. Michael 
Carter, Assistant Director, Ruminant Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-4914. For copies of 
more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. 
Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Johne's Disease.
    OMB Number: 0579-0338.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection

[[Page 70897]]

Service (APHIS) is authorized, among other things, to prevent the 
introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of 
livestock and for eradicating such diseases from the United States when 
feasible. In support of this mission, Veterinary Services (VS), APHIS, 
prohibits or restricts the interstate movement of livestock that have, 
or have been exposed to, certain diseases.
    Johne's disease, also known as paratuberculosis, is caused by 
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and primarily affects 
cattle, sheep, goats, and other domestic, exotic, and wild ruminants. 
The disease is a chronic and contagious enteritis that results in 
progressive wasting and eventual death. It is nearly always introduced 
into a healthy herd by an infected animal that is not showing symptoms 
of the disease.
    The regulations in 9 CFR, chapter I, subchapter C, govern the 
interstate movement of animals to prevent the dissemination of 
livestock and poultry diseases in the United States. Subchapter C, part 
71, contains general provisions for the interstate movement of animals, 
poultry, and their products, while part 80 pertains 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. Supplementing the regulations are 
standards outlined in the document, ``Uniform Program Standards for the 
Voluntary Bovine Johne's Disease Control Program'' (VBJDCP). The 
voluntary, cooperative program is administered by the States and 
supported by industry and APHIS.
    As part of the Agency's efforts to protect the U.S. animal 
population and prevent the interstate spread of Johne's disease, VS 
uses certain information collection activities, including Johne's 
Disease Control Program Annual Reports (VS Form 4-29), quarterly 
reports, Johne's Vaccination Records (VS Forms 4-27 and 4-27A), VBJDCP 
test records (VS Forms 4-30 and 4-30A), Herd Enrollment forms (VS Form 
4-28), Risk Assessment and Herd Management for Dairy Cattle forms (VS 
Form 4-32), Risk Assessment and Herd Management for Beef Cattle forms 
(VS Form 4-35), owner-shipper statements (VS Form 1-27), and official 
eartags.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    This information collection includes information collection 
requirements currently approved by OMB control numbers 0579-0148, 
``Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals; Interstate Movement,'' and 0579-
0338, ``Voluntary Bovine Johne's Disease Control Program.'' After OMB 
approves and combines the burden for both collections under a single 
collection titled ``Johne's Disease'' (0579-0338), the Department will 
retire number 0579-0148.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.57767189 hours per response.
    Respondents: State animal health officials; State personnel 
performing VBJDCP activities; herd owners; producers; livestock 
shippers; Johne's-certified veterinarians; and accredited 
veterinarians.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 9,125.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 7.244387.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 66,105.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 38,187 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    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.

    Done in Washington, DC, November 15, 2010.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-29254 Filed 11-18-10; 8:45 am]
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