Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 189 / Monday, September 29, 2008 / Notices 56543 

programs is available on the Internet at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information on regulations for the 

interstate movement of animals affected 

with Johne’s disease, contact Dr. 

Michael Carter, Senior Staff 

Veterinarian, Ruminant Health 

Programs, National Center for Animal 

Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 

Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; 

(301) 734–4914. 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: Johne’s Disease in Domestic 

Animals; Interstate Movement. 

OMB Number: 0579–0148. 

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) is authorized, among 

other things, to prevent the introduction 

and interstate spread of livestock 

diseases by prohibiting or restricting the 

importation and interstate movement of 

animals and other articles and by 

eradicating such diseases from the 

United States when feasible. In 

connection with this mission, 

Veterinary Services (VS), APHIS, 

prohibits or restricts the interstate 

movement of livestock that have, or 

have been exposed to, Johne’s disease. 

Johne’s disease, also known as 

paratuberculosis, is caused by 

Mycobacterium avium subspecies 

paratuberculosis and primarily affects 

cattle, sheep, goats, and other domestic, 

exotic, and wild ruminants. The disease 

is a chronic and contagious enteritis that 

results in progressive wasting and 

eventual death. It is nearly always 

introduced into a healthy herd by an 

infected animal that is not showing 

symptoms of the disease. 

The regulations in 9 CFR, chapter I, 

subchapter C, govern the interstate 

movement of animals to prevent the 

dissemination of livestock and poultry 

diseases within the United States. 

Subchapter C, part 71, contains general 

provisions for the interstate movement 

of animals, poultry, and their products, 

while part 80 pertains specifically to the 

interstate movement of domestic 

animals that are positive to an official 

test for Johne’s disease. 

These regulations provide that cattle, 

sheep, goats, and other domestic 

animals that are positive to an official 

test for Johne’s disease may generally be 

moved interstate only to a recognized 

slaughtering establishment or to an 

approved livestock facility for sale to 

such an establishment. The animals 

must bear an official eartag and be 

shipped with an owner-shipper 

statement. 

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 

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 

0.370909 hours per response. 

Respondents: Herd owners, shippers, 

and accredited veterinarians. 

Estimated annual number of 

respondents: 275. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses per respondent: 1.0. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses: 275. 

Estimated total annual burden on 

respondents: 102 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 23rd day of 

September 2008. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–22834 Filed 9–26–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2008–0105] 

Notice of Request for Approval of an 

Information Collection; National 

Animal Health Monitoring System; 

Goat 2009 Study 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: New 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 

initiate an information collection to 

support the National Animal Health 

Monitoring System Goat 2009 Study. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before November 

28, 2008. 

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-2008-0105 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–2008–0105, 

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– 

2008–0105. 

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 on the Goat 2009 Study, 

contact Ms. Sandra Warnken, 

Management and Program Analyst, 

Centers for Epidemiology and Animal 

Health, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre 

Avenue, Building B MS 2E3, Fort 

Collins, CO 80526; (970) 494–7193. For 

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56544 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 189 / Monday, September 29, 2008 / Notices 

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; Goat 2009 Study. 

OMB Number: 0579–xxxx. 

Type of Request: Approval of a new 

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 United States 

Department of Agriculture is authorized, 

among other things, to prevent the 

introduction and interstate spread of 

livestock diseases by prohibiting or 

restricting the importation and interstate 

movement of animals and other articles 

and by eradicating such diseases from 

the United States when feasible. In 

connection with this mission, the 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (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 and poultry diseases and 

associated risk factors. 

NAHMS’ studies have evolved into a 

collaborative industry and government 

initiative to help determine the most 

effective means of preventing and 

controlling diseases of livestock. 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 plans to conduct the Goat 2009 

Study as part of an ongoing series of 

NAHMS studies on the U.S. livestock 

population. The 21 States targeted for 

the study have approximately 85 

percent of the goats in the United States 

and 78 percent of U.S. operations with 

goats. The purpose of this study is to 

collect information, through 

questionnaires and biologic sampling, 

to: 

• Determine producer awareness of 

Veterinary Services program diseases 

and describe management and 

biosecurity practices important for the 

control of infectious diseases (including 

brucellosis, scrapie, caprine arthritis 

encephalitis (CAE), Johne’s, and caseous 

lymphadenitis). Provide a baseline 

description of animal health, nutrition, 

and management practices in the U.S. 

goat industry. 

• Estimate the prevalence of: 

• Mycobacterium parataberculosis 

(Johne’s) infection; 

• Internal parasitism and 

anthelminthic resistance; and 

• Common causes of mastitis. 

• Characterize contagious ecthyma 

(soremouth) in U.S. goats. Determine 

producer awareness of zoonotic 

potential and practices to prevent 

soremouth transmission and assess 

producer interest in an improved 

vaccine for soremouth. 

• Examine factors (i.e., genetic and/or 

management) that correlate with CAE 

virus levels. 

• Provide genetic and serological 

banks for future research. 

The study will consist of a series of 

on-farm questionnaires, with biologic 

sampling, that will be administered by 

APHIS-designated data collectors. The 

information collected through the Goat 

2009 Study will be analyzed and 

organized into descriptive reports. 

Information sheets will be derived from 

these reports, and the data will be 

disseminated to and used by a variety of 

constituents, including producers, 

veterinarians, stakeholders, academia, 

and others. The data will help APHIS 

address emerging issues and examine 

the economic impact of selected health 

management practices. 

We are asking the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) to 

approve our use of these information 

collection activities 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 

information collection, 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 

information collection 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 

1.048689 hours per response. 

Respondents: Goat producers in 21 

States. 

Estimated annual number of 

respondents: 5,500. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses per respondent: 1.5536. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses: 8,544. 

Estimated total annual burden on 

respondents: 8,960 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 23rd day of 

September 2008. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–22827 Filed 9–26–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2008–0088] 

Mexican Fruit Fly; Removal of 

Quarantined Areas 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of changes to 

quarantined area. 

SUMMARY: We are advising the public 

that we have made changes to the areas 

quarantined for Mexican fruit fly. The 

quarantined area was updated on July 

15, 2008, by removing from quarantine 

the area in San Diego County, CA, that 

had been quarantined, and on August 

20, 2008, by removing from quarantine 

the area in Willacy County, TX, that had 

been quarantined. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Wayne D. Burnett, National 

Coordinator, USDA-APHIS-Fruit Fly 

Exclusion and Detection Programs, 4700 

River Road Unit 137, Riverdale, MD 

20737–1234; (301) 734–4387. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha 

ludens) is a destructive pest of fruit. In 

the United States, the Mexican fruit fly 

attacks apples, apricots, avocados, 

grapefruit, mangos, nectarines, peaches, 

pears, plums, prunes, oranges, and 

tangerines, as well as other fruits. 

In a final rule published in the 

Federal Register (73 FR 32431–32439, 

Docket No. APHIS–2006–0084) on June 

9, 2008, and effective on July 9, 2008, 

we established a new subpart that 

consolidated our domestic fruit fly 

quarantine regulations (§§ 301.32 

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