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[Federal Register: August 26, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 165)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52504-52505]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au10-26]                         

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

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[[Page 52504]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0055]

 
Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Animal Health Monitoring System; Dairy Heifer Raiser 2010 
Study

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 initiate an information collection to support the National 
Animal Health Monitoring System Dairy Heifer Raiser 2010 Study.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 25, 2010.

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-2010-0055) 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-2010-0055, 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-2010-0055.
    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 the Dairy Heifer 
Raiser 2010 Study, contact Ms. Sandra Warnken, Management and Program 
Analyst, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 
Centre Avenue, Building B MS 2E3, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494-
7193. 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: National Animal Health Monitoring 
System; Dairy Heifer Raiser 2010 Study.
    OMB Number: 0579-xxxx.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among 
other things, to protect the health of our Nation's livestock and 
poultry populations by preventing the introduction and interstate 
spread of serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating 
such diseases from the United States when feasible. In connection with 
this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal Health Monitoring 
System (NAHMS), which collects nationally representative, statistically 
valid, and scientifically sound data on the prevalence and economic 
importance of livestock diseases and associated risk factors.
    NAHMS' national studies have evolved into a collaborative industry 
and government initiative to help determine the most effective means of 
preventing and controlling diseases of livestock. APHIS is the only 
agency responsible for collecting data on livestock health. 
Participation in any NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data are 
confidential.
    APHIS plans to conduct the Dairy Heifer Raiser 2010 Study in 
cooperation with the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) and 
participating States. Because the respondent universe or population 
cannot be precisely defined, APHIS has asked DCHA and participating 
States to assist in identifying and contacting dairy heifer raising 
operations. This is a small population that has never been studied 
previously. We believe this population, which includes small farm 
operations, is important because the movement of animals between these 
operations and commercial dairy operations could potentially facilitate 
the transmission of critically important diseases, such as tuberculosis 
(TB) and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD). The 17 States targeted for the 
study participated in the NAHMS Dairy 2007 Study and account for 
approximately 82 percent of the dairy cow population in the United 
States and 80 percent of U.S. operations with dairy cows.
    The purpose of this study is to collect information through a 
questionnaire to:
     Provide preliminary information on animal health and 
management practices for dairy heifer raising operations.
     Evaluate the biosecurity risks associated with the dairy 
heifer raising operations, e.g., commingling cattle from multiple 
operations and exposing young cattle to Mexican cattle.
     Assist in the development of a biosecurity assessment that 
can be used to evaluate the risk of disease transmission, e.g., TB and 
BVD, on dairy heifer raising operations.
    The study will consist of a questionnaire to be mailed to and 
completed by participating producers or administered by APHIS-
designated data collectors (primarily personnel from participating 
States). The information collected through the Dairy Heifer Raiser 2010 
Study will be analyzed and organized into descriptive reports for DCHA 
members and each participating State and a summary report. Information 
will be disseminated to and used by a variety of constituents, 
including producers, veterinarians, stakeholders, academia, and others. 
The data will help APHIS address emerging issues and examine the impact 
of selected animal health management practices.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity for 3 years.

[[Page 52505]]

    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as 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 
information collection, 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 information collection 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 0.878 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dairy heifer raisers in 17 States.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 878 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 20\th\ day of August 2010.

Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-21292 Filed 8-25-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S
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