```

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59590-59591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23969]

========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 189 / Friday, September 28, 2012 / 
Notices

[[Page 59590]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0063]

Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; National Animal Health Reporting System

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with the National Animal Health Reporting System.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0063-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0063, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-
0063 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the National Animal 
Health Reporting System, contact Mr. Chris Quatrano, Management and 
Program Analyst, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 
2150 Centre Avenue, Building B MS 2E6, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117; 
(970) 494-7207. 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 Reporting System (NAHRS).
    OMB Number: 0579-0299.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
authorized, among other things, to prohibit or restrict the importation 
and interstate movement of animals and other articles to prevent the 
introduction and interstate spread of livestock diseases and to 
eradicate such diseases from the United States when feasible. In 
connection with this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal Health 
Reporting System (NAHRS), which collects, on a national basis, data 
monthly from State veterinarians on the presence or absence of diseases 
of interest to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
    As a member country of OIE, the United States must submit reports 
to the OIE on the status of certain diseases in specific livestock, 
poultry, and aquaculture species. Reportable diseases are diseases that 
have the potential for rapid spread, irrespective of national borders, 
that are of serious socioeconomic or public health consequence, and 
that are of major importance in the international trade of animals and 
animal products. The potential benefits to trade of accurate reporting 
on the health status of the U.S. commercial livestock, poultry, and 
aquaculture industries include expansion of those industries into new 
export markets, and preservation of existing markets through increased 
confidence in quality and disease freedom. This data collection is 
unique in terms of the type, quantity, and frequency; no other entity 
is collecting and reporting data to the OIE on the health status of 
U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.
    The number of NAHRS reportable diseases has increased approximately 
from 120 to 150 diseases in 2012 in part due to the expansion of 
information collected on aquaculture diseases. In addition, States have 
expanded their laboratory resources through improved laboratory 
information management systems, the information collected regarding 
equine infectious anemia has been expanded, and increased efforts are 
being made by APHIS to validate the information collected from States.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 3 years.
    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 8 hours per response.
    Respondents: State animal health officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 52.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 12.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 624.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,992 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.)

[[Page 59591]]

    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 24th day of September 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-23969 Filed 9-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
```