[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 49958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25327]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-078-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection

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 in support of the State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication 
Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 24, 1997 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of burden estimate, 
ways to minimize the burden (such as through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology), or any 
other aspect of this collection of information to: Docket No. 97-078-1, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River 
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please send an original and 
three copies, and state that your comments refer to Docket 97-078-1. 
Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 
14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing 
to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to 
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For information regarding the State-Federal 
Brucellosis Eradication Program, contact Dr. James Davis, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, Suite 3B08, 
4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-5970. For 
copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Ms. Celeste Sickles, Agency Support Service Specialist, at 
(301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program.
    OMB Number: 0579-0047.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program is a 
national program to eliminate this serious disease of livestock. 
Brucellosis also affects humans through contacts with infected animals 
or their byproducts. The program is conducted under the various States' 
authorities, and by Federal authorities regulating interstate movement 
of affected animals.
    Uniform program standards (Brucellosis Eradication Recommended 
Uniform Methods and Rules) are developed by organizations representing 
the livestock industry, State animal health agencies, and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Recommendations affecting the program 
standards are submitted by the executive committee of the U.S. Animal 
Health Association for consideration and approval by USDA. If the 
recommendations are accepted as part of the program standards, the 
Brucellosis Eradication Recommended Uniform Methods and Rules (UMR) are 
amended to incorporate the change.
    The UMR forms the basis for the program in each State. The UMR 
states, in part, that a ``concerted effort through effective screening 
programs and extensive epidemiologic investigations to locate infection 
and to eradicate the disease is required.'' A national epidemiology 
form is needed to fulfill an individual State's commitment to report 
and review epidemiologic data.
    The information for report forms is obtained from State 
veterinarians, livestock inspectors, and herd owners. The information 
obtained is used to continue the search for other infected herds, 
maintain identification of livestock, monitor deficiencies in 
identification of animals for movement, and monitor program 
deficiencies in suspicious and infected herds. This information is used 
to determine brucellosis area status and aids herd owners by speeding 
up the detection and elimination of serious disease conditions in their 
herds.
    In most instances, information is collected at the time of testing, 
herd tagging, or branding of infected animals.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the continued use of this information collection activity.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
We need this outside input to help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed 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 
proposed 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: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .00855 hours per response.
    Respondents: State veterinarians, livestock inspectors, and herd 
owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 7,278.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 858.5119.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 6,248,250.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 52,395 hours. (Due to 
rounding, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the average 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 18th day of September 1997.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25327 Filed 9-23-97; 8:45 am]
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