[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 485-486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30929]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0108]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Animal Welfare

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 Animal Welfare Act 
regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research facilities, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0108.

[[Page 486]]

    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0108, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-
0108 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Animal Welfare 
Act regulations, contact Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, 
Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 
851-3751. For copies of more detailed information on the information 
collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Animal Welfare.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0036.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA or Act, 7 U.S.C. 2131 
et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to promulgate 
standards and other requirements governing the humane handling, 
housing, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by 
dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate 
handlers. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for 
enforcement of the AWA to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS).
    The regulations in 9 CFR parts 1 through 3 were promulgated under 
the AWA to ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of regulated animals under the Act. The regulations in 9 
CFR part 2 require documentation of specified information by dealers, 
research institutions, exhibitors, carriers (including foreign air 
carriers), and intermediate handlers. The regulations in 9 CFR part 2 
also require that facilities that use animals for regulated purposes 
obtain a license or register with the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA). Before being issued a USDA license, individuals are required to 
undergo prelicense inspections; once licensed, a licensee must 
periodically renew the license.
    To help ensure compliance with the AWA regulations, APHIS performs 
unannounced inspections of regulated facilities. A significant 
component of the inspection process is review of records that must be 
established and maintained by regulated facilities. The information 
contained in these records is used by APHIS inspectors to ensure that 
dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and 
carriers comply with the Act and regulations.
    Facilities must make and maintain records that contain official 
identification for all dogs and cats and certification of those animals 
received from pounds, shelters, and private individuals. These records 
are used to ensure that stolen pets are not used for regulated 
activities. Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities that acquire 
animals from nonlicensed persons are required to have the owners of the 
animals sign a certification statement verifying the owner's exemption 
from licensing under the Act. Records must also be maintained for 
animals other than dogs and cats when the animals are used for purposes 
regulated under the Act.
    Research facilities must also make and maintain additional records 
for animals covered under the Act that are used for teaching, testing, 
and experimentation. This information is used by APHIS personnel to 
review the research facility's animal care and use program.
    APHIS needs the reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained 
in 9 CFR part 2 to enforce the Act and regulations. APHIS also uses the 
collected information to provide a mandatory annual report of animal 
welfare activities to Congress.
    In addition to the above information collection activities approved 
under 0579-0036, APHIS is combining to this collection the burden from 
0579-0361, Submission of Itineraries, and 0579-0392, Animal Welfare; 
Retail Pet Stores and Licensing Exemptions. Upon approval of this 
collection by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), APHIS will 
retire numbers 0579-0361 and 0579-0392.
    We are asking 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 reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.63 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers, 
and intermediate handlers; and persons exempt from licensing under the 
AWA.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 13,985.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 15.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 216,171.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 136,364 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 December 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-30929 Filed 1-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P