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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75957-75958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30643]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0109]

Notice of Revision and Request for Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Equines Into the United States

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 
regulations for the importation of equines and to request extension of 
approval of the information collection to safeguard the health of the 
U.S. equine population.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2010-0109 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2010-0109, 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-2010-0109.
    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://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on regulations for the 
importation of equines into the United States, contact Dr. Barry Meade, 
Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services Team--Animals, NCIE, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale MD 20737; (301) 734-0819. 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: Importation of Equines into the United States.
    OMB Number: 0579-0324.
    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 Service (APHIS) regulates 
the importation and interstate movement of certain animals and animal 
products to prevent the introduction into or dissemination within the 
United States of pests and diseases of livestock.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 prohibit or restrict the 
importation of certain animals into the United States to prevent the 
introduction of communicable diseases of livestock and poultry. In 
accordance with Subpart C of the regulations, the importation of 
equines into the United States involves a variety of information 
collection activities, including import permit application; foreign 
health certificates; submission of requests for space at USDA 
quarantine facilities with declaration of importation and payment 
terms; specimen submission forms; requests for inspection, other 
services, dipping treatments; cooperative, trust fund, and written 
agreements; certification statements; daily records and logs; 
photographs for identification;

[[Page 75958]]

permanent electronic identification compatible reader; plans for 
medical treatment; application for approval of a quarantine or holding 
facility; opportunity for a hearing on facility withdrawal or 
suspension; requests to change a horse's itinerary or method of 
transportation; and recordkeeping. We are adding as a new collection 
activity a checklist for approval of permanent, privately owned equine 
quarantine facilities.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 3 years.
    This revised information collection combines equine importation 
activities currently approved by OMB under ``Temporary Importation of 
Horses; Noncompetitive Entertainment Horses From Countries Affected 
With Contagious Equine Metritis''(0579-0324), ``Importation of Horses, 
Ruminants, Swine, and Dogs; Inspection and Treatment for Screwworm 
(0579-0165), and ``Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and 
Poultry Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological 
Animals'' (0579-0040). We are changing the title to ``Importation of 
Equines into the United States'' to accurately reflect the combined 
collection activities.
    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 0.645347 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers of horses into the United States; operators 
of private quarantine facilities; States approved to conduct contagious 
equine metritis testing; State animal health authorities; foreign 
government officials; transporters; hobby farm operators; non-profit 
organizations; accredited veterinarians; private laboratories; and 
research institutions.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 35,500.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.64231.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 58,302.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 37,625 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, this 1st day of December 2010.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30643 Filed 12-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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