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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43649-43650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18412]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0067]

Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Scrapie in Sheep and Goats; Interstate Movement 
Restrictions and Indemnity Program

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: 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 request an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with regulations for the interstate movement of 
sheep and goats and an indemnity program to control the spread of 
scrapie.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 19, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0067-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0067, 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-2011-
0067 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) 690-2817 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on domestic 
regulations to control the spread of scrapie, contact Dr. Diane Sutton, 
Senior Staff Veterinarian, Ruminant Health Programs, NCAHP, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road, Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-4913. 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: Scrapie in Sheep and Goats; Interstate Movement Restrictions 
and Indemnity Program.
    OMB Number: 0579-0101.
    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 and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to 
prohibit or restrict the interstate movement of animals and animal 
products to prevent the dissemination within the United States of 
animal diseases and pests of livestock and to conduct programs to 
detect, control, and eradicate pests and diseases of livestock.
    Scrapie is a progressive, degenerative, and eventually fatal 
disease affecting the nervous system of sheep and goats. Its control is 
complicated because the disease has an extremely long incubation period 
without clinical signs of disease and no known treatment.
    APHIS regulations in 9 CFR part 79 restrict the interstate movement 
of certain sheep and goats to control the spread of scrapie, and 9 CFR 
part 54 contains regulations for an indemnity program, flock cleanup, 
testing, and a Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP).
    The scrapie disease control program information collection 
activities include cooperative agreements; grants; memorandums of 
understanding; APHIS forms for inspection and epidemiology data; 
applications to participate in the SFCP; flock plans; post-exposure 
management and monitoring plans; scrapie test records; applications for 
indemnity payments; certificates, permits, and owner statements for the 
interstate movement of certain sheep and goats; applications for 
premises identification numbers; and applications for official APHIS 
identification, along with other program-related activities.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 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

[[Page 43650]]

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 1.2158064 hours per response.
    Respondents: Flock owners; market owners, operators, or managers; 
dealers; slaughter plant owners, operators, or managers; feedlot 
owners, operators, or managers; tag manufacturers; managers of producer 
organizations; accredited veterinarians; and State animal health 
authorities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 112,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 6.587625.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 737,814.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 897,039 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 14th day of July 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-18412 Filed 7-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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