[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 33629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16279]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 33629]]


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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.

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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 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]
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