24154 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 24, 2013 / Notices 

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 the Equine Herpesvirus 

Myeloencephalopathy Study, contact 

Mr. Chris Quatrano, Industry Analyst, 

Centers for Epidemiology and Animal 

Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre 

Avenue, Building B MS 2E6, 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; Equine Herpesvirus 

Myeloencephalopathy Study. 

OMB Number: 0579–0399. 

Type of Request: Continuation of an 

emergency 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 U.S. Department 

of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, 

among other things, to protect the health 

of U.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. 

NAHMS’ epidemiologic investigations 

are a collaborative industry and 

government initiative to help determine 

the most effective means of preventing 

and controlling livestock disease 

outbreaks. APHIS is the only agency 

responsible for collecting data on 

livestock health. Participation in any 

NAHMS study is voluntary, and all data 

are confidential. 

APHIS is conducting an Equine 

Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy 

(EHM) Study as part of an ongoing 

series of NAHMS studies on the U.S. 

livestock population. The purpose of 

this study is to collect information using 

questionnaires, during equine 

herpesvirus (EHV–1) outbreaks, to 

identify risk factors for EHM. EHM is 

the neurologic form of EHV–1 in horses. 

Infection with EHV–1 can result in 

respiratory disease, abortion in mares, 

neonatal foal death, and neurologic 

disease. The virus can spread in many 

ways, such as through direct horse-tohorse contact, through the air in equine 

environments, and by contact with 

contaminated equipment, clothing, and 

hands. EHM is endemic to the United 

States, and outbreaks are usually 

handled by affected States. However, 

APHIS becomes involved in cases that 

involve multiple States or the interstate 

movement of horses. 

Due to recent outbreaks of EHV–1 in 

the United States, APHIS has initiated 

the study earlier than expected. State 

animal health officials are currently 

administering questionnaires, in person 

or by telephone, to horse owners and 

trainers of horses infected with EHV–1 

that include cases of EHM and horses 

that are not affected to serve as case 

controls. The information collected is 

being used to understand the risk factors 

for EHM, make recommendations for 

disease control, and to allow us to 

provide guidance on the best ways to 

avoid future outbreaks based on a 

thorough analysis and interpretation of 

the data. 

The Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) has approved our use of these 

information collection activities on an 

emergency basis. We plan to request 

continuation of that approval for 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 

reporting burden for this collection of 

information is estimated to average 

0.79226 hours per response. 

Respondents: Horse owners and/or 

trainers and State animal health 

officials. 

Estimated annual number of 

respondents: 626. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses per respondent: 1.57. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses: 982. 

Estimated total annual burden on 

respondents: 778 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 18th day of 

April 2013. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–09736 Filed 4–23–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0105] 

Notice of Availability of a National 

Animal Health Laboratory Network 

Reorganization Concept Paper 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of availability and 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: We are advising the public 

that the Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service is making available a 

concept paper that describes a revised 

structure for the National Animal Health 

Laboratory Network (NAHLN) for public 

review and comment. The NAHLN is a 

nationally coordinated network and 

partnership of Federal, State, and 

university-associated animal health 

laboratories working to protect animal 

and public health and the nation’s food 

supply by providing diagnostic testing 

aimed at detecting biological threats to 

the nation’s food animals. The concept 

paper we are making available for 

comment presents a structure we 

believe will give the NAHLN increased 

capacity and flexibility to detect and 

respond to emerging and zoonotic 

diseases. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before June 24, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov/ 

#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0105- 

0001. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Send your comment to Docket No. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 24, 2013 / Notices 24155 

APHIS–2012–0105, 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 http:// 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0105 or 

in our reading room, which 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) 799–7039 

before coming. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Sarah Tomlinson, Associate 

Coordinator, National Animal Health 

Laboratory Network, Veterinary 

Services, APHIS, 2140 Centre Avenue, 

Building B, Fort Collins, CO 80526; 

(970) 494–7152. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The National Animal Health 

Laboratory Network (NAHLN) is a 

nationally coordinated network and 

partnership of Federal, State, and 

university-associated animal health 

laboratories working to protect animal 

and public health and the nation’s food 

supply by providing diagnostic testing 

aimed at detecting biological threats to 

the nation’s food animals. Participating 

NAHLN laboratories are currently 

designated as Core, Member, Contract, 

or Adjunct laboratories, depending on 

their testing capacities, geographical 

distribution, and degree of 

specialization. Oversight and 

administration of the NAHLN is 

provided by the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

through the Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS). Input and 

leadership is provided to the NAHLN by 

a Coordinating Council composed of 

USDA and State regulatory animal 

health officials and State employee 

representatives of NAHLN laboratories. 

Since its inception in 2002, the 

NAHLN has expanded from 12 to over 

50 current active participating 

laboratories, each with varying 

diagnostic capacities. The need and 

available technology for diagnostic 

testing has also changed. Stakeholder 

feedback indicates that the NAHLN’s 

structure also needs to change in order 

to expand detection of emerging and 

zoonotic diseases. To address 

stakeholder feedback, APHIS is 

considering certain elements that we 

believe will ensure continuation of the 

NAHLN’s founding principles while 

responding to the need for additional 

flexibility and capacity to address 

identified gaps in the nation’s 

surveillance, detection, and response 

capabilities. 

The concept paper describes the roles 

and responsibilities of the NAHLN 

Coordinating Council and offers a 

revised structure for the NAHLN that 

would clarify opportunities for 

participation by State-based NAHLN 

laboratories. Inclusion of State-based 

laboratories in the NAHLN allows for 

greater proximity to and linkages with 

producers and veterinarians, which is 

critical to early detection of foreign 

animal and emerging diseases. Possible 

criteria and designations for various 

levels of participation, including 

participation by private laboratories, are 

set forth in the concept paper. Instead 

of using Core, Member, Contract, or 

Adjunct laboratory designations, 

participating laboratories would be 

designated as Level 1, 2, or 3, Affiliate 

Laboratory, or Specialty Laboratory, 

depending on the criteria met by each 

participating laboratory. To maintain 

designation, qualifying laboratories 

would undergo annual reviews to 

demonstrate adherence to established 

NAHLN policies and procedures. 

APHIS will consider all comments 

received on the concept paper in 

determining the appropriate structure 

and governance for the NAHLN. The 

concept paper for the revised structure 

of the NAHLN may be viewed on the 

Regulations.gov Web site or in our 

reading room (see ADDRESSES above for 

a link to Regulations.gov and 

information on the location and hours of 

the reading room). You may request 

paper copies of the document by calling 

or writing to the person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please 

refer to the title of this document when 

requesting copies. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of 

April 2013. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–09733 Filed 4–23–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2013–0017] 

Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk 

Analysis for Interstate Movement of 

Sapote Fruit From Puerto Rico Into the 

Continental United States 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: We are advising the public 

that we have prepared a pest risk 

analysis that evaluates the risks 

associated with the interstate movement 

into the continental United States of 

fresh sapote fruit from Puerto Rico. 

Based on that analysis, we believe that 

the application of one or more 

designated phytosanitary measures will 

be sufficient to mitigate the risks of 

introducing or disseminating plant pests 

or noxious weeds via the interstate 

movement of sapote fruit from Puerto 

Rico. We are making the pest risk 

analysis available to the public for 

review and comment. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before June 24, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov/ 

#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0017- 

0001. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Send your comment to Docket No. 

APHIS–2013–0017, 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 http:// 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0017 or 

in our reading room, which 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) 799–7039 

before coming. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

David Lamb, Regulatory Policy 

Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River 

Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737– 

1231; (301) 851–2103. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES