[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 227 (Monday, November 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70954-70955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27850]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0128]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Importation of Swine and Swine Products From the European
Union
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 associated with regulations for the importation of swine and
swine products from the European Union.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
January 23, 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-2008-0128 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-2008-0128, 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-2008-0128.
[[Page 70955]]
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 regulations for the
importation of swine and swine products from the European Union,
contact Dr. James Davis, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for
Import and Export (Animals), VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 39,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-0694; or Dr. Lynette McDuffie, Staff
Veterinarian, National Center for Import and Export (Products), VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-0689.
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: Importation of Swine and Swine Products From the European
Union.
OMB Number: 0579-0265.
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
United States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other
things, to prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement
of animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into and
dissemination within the United States of animal diseases and pests.
Regulations governing the importation of animals and animal products
into the United States are contained in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.
Regulations in parts 94 and 98 prohibit or restrict the importation
of specified animals and animal products, including live swine, pork
and pork products, and swine semen, into the United States to prevent
the introduction into the U.S. livestock population of certain animal
diseases, including classical swine fever (CSF).
Sections 94.24 and 98.38 contain regulations necessary to mitigate
the risk of introducing CSF into the United States from a defined
region of the European Union (``the APHIS-defined EU CSF region'') and
require the use of information collection activities, including
certificates issued by animal health authorities of the Member States
of the APHIS-defined EU-CSF region stating that applicable provisions
of the regulations to prevent the introduction of CSF into the United
States via live swine, pork and pork products, and swine semen have
been met.
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 this 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 hour per response.
Respondents: Animal health authorities of the APHIS-defined EU CSF
region.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 86.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 9.5.
Estimated annual number of responses: 816.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 816 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 18th day of November 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-27850 Filed 11-21-08; 8:45 am]
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