[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 52 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12754-12755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4917]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0011]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Blood and Tissue Collection at Slaughtering and Rendering 
Establishments

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 regulations for blood and tissue collection 
at slaughtering and rendering establishments to enhance animal disease 
surveillance.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
18, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the 
Docket ID column, select APHIS-2007-0011 to submit or view public 
comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing 
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through 
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2007-0011, 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-2007-0011.
    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 regarding an 
information collection associated with regulations for blood and tissue 
collection at slaughtering and rendering establishments, contact Dr. 
Adam Grow, Director, Surveillance and Identification Programs, National 
Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-6954. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste 
Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Blood and Tissue Collection at Slaughtering and Rendering 
Establishments.
    OMB Number: 0579-0212.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, is authorized to prevent the interstate 
spread of livestock diseases and for eradicating such diseases from the 
United States when feasible. In connection with this mission, the 
Veterinary Services (VS) program, APHIS, conducts animal disease 
surveillance programs, including diagnostic testing.
    The regulations in 9 CFR, subchapter C, part 71, ``General 
Provisions,'' provide for the collection of blood and tissue samples 
from livestock (horses, cattle, bison, captive cervids, sheep and 
goats, swine, and other farmed animals) and poultry at slaughter. 
Persons moving livestock and poultry interstate for slaughter may only 
move the animals to slaughtering or rendering establishments that have 
been listed by the Administrator of APHIS. Federal personnel, in 
conjunction with establishment personnel, are required to complete a 
listing agreement and a facility inspection report. At APHIS' 
discretion, slaughtering or rendering establishment personnel will 
collect blood and tissue samples to assess the prevalence of disease 
and to identify sources of disease. The test-at-slaughter program 
necessitates the use of a specimen submission form, VS Form 10-4.
    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 
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

[[Page 12755]]

    (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 0.3278853 hours per response.
    Respondents: Slaughtering and rendering establishment personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 155.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 83.2903.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 12,910.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,233 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 13th day of March 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4917 Filed 3-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P