This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

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rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

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statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

33629

Vol. 63, No. 118

Friday, June 19, 1998

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

[Docket No. 98–049–1]

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.

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

Cooperative State-Federal Bovine

Tuberculosis Eradication Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by August 18, 1998 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.

98–049–1, 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 No. 98–049–

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 CONTACT: For

information regarding the Cooperative

State-Federal Bovine Tuberculosis

Eradication Program, contact Dr. James

P. Davis, Senior Staff Veterinarian,

National Animal Health Programs, VS,

APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1231, (301) 734–

5970. For copies of more detailed

information on the information

collection, contact Mr. Gregg Ramsey,

APHIS’ Information Collection

Coordinator, at (301) 734–5682.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Tuberculosis.

OMB Number: 0579–0084.

Expiration Date of Approval:

September 30, 1998.

Type of Request: Extension of

approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The United States

Department of Agriculture is

responsible for preventing the spread of

serious communicable animal diseases

from one State to another, and for

eradicating such diseases from the

United States when feasible.

In connection with this mission, the

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service participates in the Cooperative

State-Federal Bovine Tuberculosis

Eradication Program, which is a

national program to eliminate bovine

tuberculosis (a serious disease of

livestock) from the United States.

The disease also affects man through

contact with infected animals or their

byproducts. Our program is conducted

under the various States’ authorities

supplemented by Federal regulations on

the interstate movement of animals.

Implementing our Bovine

Tuberculosis Eradication Program

necessitates the use of a number of

information-gathering documents,

including various forms needed to

properly identify, test, and transport

animals. Other information gathering

documents are used to report and

review epidemiological data collected

during investigations necessary to locate

the disease and ensure adequate

controls are in place to prevent its

spread. Still other documents provide

information we need to pay indemnity

to owners of animals that are destroyed

because of tuberculosis.

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: The public

reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average

0.32444 hours per response.

Respondents: State Veterinarians,

livestock inspectors, herd owners.

Estimated annual number of

respondents: 5,031.

Estimated annual number of

responses per respondent: 10.642.

Estimated annual number of

responses: 53,540.

Estimated total annual burden on

respondents: 17,371 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 12th day of

June 1998.

Charles Schwalbe,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98–16279 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

[Docket No. 98–048–1]

Availability of an Environmental

Assessment

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.