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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28414-28415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12021]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0008]

Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
National Animal Health Monitoring System; Emergency Epidemiologic 
Investigations

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 of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to initiate Emergency Epidemiologic Investigations, an 
information collection to support the National Animal Health Monitoring 
System.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
18, 2011.

[[Page 28415]]

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-2011-0008 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-2011-0008, 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-2011-0008.
    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 Emergency 
Epidemiologic Investigations, 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; Emergency 
Epidemiologic Investigations.
    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 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 is often asked by State and local animal health 
officials to carry out epidemiological investigations as diseases 
impact animal health populations. This activity will be used to collect 
information on:
     Outbreaks of animal diseases with unknown etiology and 
transmission, which are highly contagious, and which have high case 
fatality.
     Outbreaks of known animal diseases which are highly 
contagious, virulent, and have unknown source of infection or mode of 
transmission.
     Outbreaks of emerging, zoonotic, or foreign animal 
diseases within the United States.
     Any event with a substantial increase in the number of 
cases.
    The investigations will normally consist of an on-farm 
questionnaire administered by APHIS-designated data collectors. The 
information collected through Emergency Epidemiologic Investigations 
will be analyzed and used to:
     Identify the scope of the problem.
     Define and describe the affected population and the 
susceptible population.
     Predict or detect trends in disease emergence and 
movement.
     Understand the risk factors for disease.
     Estimate the cost of disease control and develop 
intervention options.
     Make recommendations for disease control.
     Provide parameters for animal disease spread models.
     Provide lessons learned and guidance on the best ways to 
avoid future outbreaks based on thorough analysis of data from current 
outbreak(s).
     Identify areas for further research.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as 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
    (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 0.725 hours per response.
    Respondents: Livestock owners, State and local animal health 
officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,175 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 11th day of May 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-12021 Filed 5-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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