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[Federal Register: March 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 50)]
[Notices]               
[Page 13969-13970]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr11-24]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0001]

 
Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Animal Health Monitoring System; Needs Assessments

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New information collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to 
initiate an information collection to support the research and 
development phase of surveys entitled National Animal Health Monitoring 
System needs assessments.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
16, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2011-0001 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2011-0001, 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-2011-0001.
    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 on the Needs 
Assessment study, contact Mr. Chris Quatrano, Industry Analyst, Centers 
for Epidemiology and Animal Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, 
Building B MS 2E7, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (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 Monitoring 
System; Needs Assessments.
    OMB Number: 0579-xxxx.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new 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 protect the health of our Nation's livestock and 
poultry populations by preventing the introduction and interstate 
spread of serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating 
such diseases from the United States when feasible. In connection with 
this mission, APHIS operates the National Animal Health Monitoring 
System (NAHMS), which collects nationally representative, statistically 
valid, and scientifically sound data on the prevalence and economic 
importance of livestock diseases and associated risk factors. These 
data will be used by the NAHMS program to:
     Identify the highest priority issues to examine during 
subsequent commodity surveys;
     Understand current knowledge gaps in the industry;
     Determine the proper scope of future NAHMS studies for 
each commodity;
     Set objectives for upcoming NAHMS studies;
     Increase response rates through the inclusion of important 
and timely issues; and
     Improve final report quality and relevance to industry/
respondent needs.
    Collection and dissemination of animal and poultry health data is 
mandated by 7 U.S.C. 391, the Animal Industry Act of 1884, which 
established the precursor of APHIS. In connection with the mission, 
APHIS, Veterinary Services is requesting approval to perform multiple 
needs assessments to help plan upcoming studies.
    The purpose of administering needs assessments prior to the design 
phase of NAHMS studies is to gather producer, veterinary, and industry 
representatives' opinions, which help determine the focus and scope of 
NAHMS' studies. This will help strengthen the NAHMS program through 
collection of timely and relevant information. Needs assessments ensure 
that the NAHMS program is driven by producer and industry interests and 
that the studies and reports produced by NAHMS are meeting the needs of 
the public. No other entity/source is collecting and analyzing data to 
identify important information needs to be addressed by NAHMS studies.
    Needs assessments may be administered to focus groups, industry 
groups, veterinary associations, or special interest groups. 
Assessments may be done in person (focus groups), via U.S. mail or via 
the Internet. Depending on the specific circumstances of the industry 
being surveyed and the best method to contact respondents, one or more 
of these methods may be used.
    NAHMS will use the information collected during these needs 
assessment studies to focus on the objectives of its national studies. 
Producer, veterinary, and industry representatives' summarized opinions 
may be published in information sheets announcing the upcoming study 
and objectives of the study. Participation in all NAHMS studies is 
voluntary.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the use of these needs assessment surveys for three 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,

[[Page 13970]]

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 0.740909 hours per response.
    Respondents: Focus groups, industry groups, veterinary 
associations, or special interest groups involved with the swine and 
dairy industries.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,200.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 0.12136.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,200.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 163 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 9th day of March 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-5955 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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