[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 107 (Monday, June 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30250-30251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11831]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0022]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Emergency Management Response System

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the Emergency Management 
Response System.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 6, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2021-0022 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2021-0022, 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 www.regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is 
located in room 1620 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: For information on the Emergency 
Management Response System (EMRS), contact Dr. Fred Bourgeois, EMRS 
National Coordinator, National Preparedness and Incident Coordination, 
Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 41,

[[Page 30251]]

Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (318) 288-4083. For more detailed information 
on the information collection, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' 
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Emergency Management Response System.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0071.
    Type of Request: Revision to and 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 
protect the health of U.S. livestock and poultry populations by 
preventing the introduction and interstate spread of diseases and pests 
of livestock and by eradicating such diseases from the United States 
when feasible.
    The Emergency Management Response System (EMRS) is a web-based 
system that helps APHIS manage and investigate potential incidents of 
foreign animal diseases in the United States.
    When a potential foreign animal disease incident is reported, APHIS 
or State animal health officials dispatch a foreign animal disease 
veterinary diagnostician to the premises of the reported incident to 
conduct an investigation. The diagnostician obtains vital 
epidemiological data by conducting field investigations, including 
sample collection, and by interviewing the owner or manager of the 
premises being investigated. These important data, submitted 
electronically by the diagnostician into EMRS, include such items as 
the purpose of the diagnostician's visit and suspected disease, type of 
operation on the premises, the number and type of animals on the 
premises, the number of sick or dead animals on the premises, the 
results of physical examinations of affected animals and necropsy 
examinations, vaccination information on the animals in the herd or 
flock, biosecurity practices at the site, whether any animals were 
recently moved out of the herd or flock, whether any new animals were 
recently introduced into the herd or flock, the number and kinds of 
test samples taken, and detailed geographic data concerning the 
premises location. EMRS allows these epidemiological and diagnostic 
data to be documented and transmitted more efficiently.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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 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 burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Owners or operators of livestock and poultry 
facilities and State animal health officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 158.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 156.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 24,703.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 24,703 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 2nd day of June 2021.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-11831 Filed 6-4-21; 8:45 am]
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