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###### Department of Agriculture

###### Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

          - [Docket No. APHIS-2009-0012]

# 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 associated with livestock disease surveillance programs.

# DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 5, 2009.

# 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-2009-0012                          to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.                    
      -  Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:                          Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0012, 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-2009-0012.                    

*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 regarding livestock disease surveillance programs, contact Ms. Connie J. Osmundson, Financial Analyst, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, VS, APHIS, P.O. Box 844, Ames, IA 50010; (515) 663-7571. 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:*                     Specimen Submission.                

*OMB Number:*                     0579-0090.                

*Type of Request:*                     Extension of 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 is authorized, among other things, to carry out activities to detect, control, and eradicate pests and diseases of livestock within the United States.                

In connection with this mission, APHIS' Veterinary Services (VS) conducts disease surveillance programs. The VS form 10-4 and its supplemental sheet (VS form 10-4A) are critical components of these programs. They are routinely used whenever specimens (such as blood, milk, tissue, or urine) from any animal (including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, and poultry) are submitted to our National Veterinary Services Laboratories for testing.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities for an additional 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                           ( print page 15433)                        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 0.1680434 hours per response.                

*Respondents:*                     State veterinarians or other State representatives, accredited veterinarians, animal owners, private laboratories, and research institutions.                

*Estimated Annual Number of Respondents:*                     2,762.                

*Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent:*                     9.9927588.                

*Estimated Annual Number of Responses:*                     27,600.                

*Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:*                     4,638 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 31st day of March 2009.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. E9-7629 Filed 4-3-09; 8:45 am]

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