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###### Department of Agriculture

###### Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

          - [Docket No. APHIS-2023-0072]

# AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

# ACTION:

Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the importation of animals and poultry, animal and poultry products, certain animal embryos, semen, and zoological animals.

# DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 26, 2023.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
      -  Federal eRulemaking Portal:                          Go to                          www.regulations.gov.                          Enter APHIS-2023-0072 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents.                    
      -  Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:                          Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2023-0072, 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                         *regulations.gov*                         or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1620 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 animals and poultry, animal and poultry products, certain animal embryos, and zoological animals, contact Dr. Alexandra MacKenzie, Senior Veterinary Medical Officer, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3411;                         *alexandra.mackenzie@usda.gov.*                         For more information about the information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

*Title:*                     Importation of Animals and Poultry, Animal and Poultry Products, Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological Animals.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     0579-0040.                

*Type of Request:*                     Revision to 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) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among other things, to prohibit or restrict the importation of animals, animal products, and other articles into the United States to prevent the introduction of animal diseases and pests. Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and for enhancing APHIS' ability to compete in the world market of animal and animal product trade.                

                    Among other things, APHIS' Veterinary Services is responsible for preventing the introduction of foreign or certain other communicable animal diseases into the United States and for rapidly identifying, containing, eradicating, or otherwise mitigating such diseases when feasible. In connection with this mission, APHIS collects information from individuals, businesses, and farms that are involved with importation of animals or poultry, animal or poultry products, or animal germplasm (semen, oocytes, embryos, and cloning tissues, as well as eggs for                           ( print page 72991)                        hatching) into the United States, as well as from foreign countries and States to support these imports. Some of the information collection activities include agreements, permits, application and space reservation requests, inspections, registers, declarations of importation, requests for hearings, daily logs, additional requirements, application for permits, import health certificates, letters, written notices, daily record of horse activities, written requests, opportunities to present views, reporting, applications for approval of facilities, certifications, arrival notices, on-hold shipment notifications, reports, test submission forms, quarantine documents, affidavits, animal identification, written plans, checklists, specimen submissions, emergency action notifications, refusal of entry and order to dispose of fish, premises information, recordkeeping, and application of seals.                

In addition, APHIS evaluates the animal health statuses of foreign regions and evaluates the risk of disease introduction via commodities to allow for the importation of animals and animal-related commodities into the United States by receiving and evaluating information collection activities. These information collection activities include recognition of the animal health status of a region, applications for recognition of the animal health status of a region, applications for recognition of a region as historically free of a disease, requests for additional information about the region, appeals of classifications of animal health status, and written recommendations and proof of implementation from foreign animal health authorities seeking to engage in the regionalization process.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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 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 burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.76 hours per response.                

*Respondents:*                     Foreign animal health authorities; U.S. importers; foreign exporters; veterinarians and animal health technicians in other countries; State animal health authorities; shippers, owners and operators of foreign processing plants and farms; USDA-approved zoos, laboratories, and feedlots; private quarantine facilities; and other entities involved (directly or indirectly) in the importation of animals and poultry, animal and poultry products, zoological animals, and animal germplasm.                

*Estimated annual number of respondents:*                     73,769.                

*Estimated annual number of responses per respondent:*                     11.                

*Estimated annual number of responses:*                     795,301.                

*Estimated total annual burden on respondents:*                     600,320 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 16th day of October 2023.

Michael Watson,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 2023-23450 Filed 10-23-23; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P