[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56335-56337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22441]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2014-0030]
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Information Collection:
Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP)
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's intention to
renew an information collection related to the Salmonella Initiative
Program (SIP). FSIS is requesting the renewal because the current OMB
approval will expire on January 31, 2015.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November
18, 2014.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Docket
Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782,
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2014-0030. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made
[[Page 56336]]
available for public inspection and posted without change, including
any personal information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act
Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6067, South Building, Washington, DC
20250; (202) 690-6510.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Salmonella Initiative Program.
OMB Number: 0583-0154.
Expiration Date of Approval: 01/31/2015.
Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). FSIS
protects the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly labeled and
packaged.
FSIS is requesting a renewal of a currently approved information
collection addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements relating
to the SIP. SIP offers incentives to meat and poultry slaughter
establishments to control Salmonella in their operations. SIP does this
by granting waivers of certain regulatory requirements with the
condition that establishments test for Salmonella, Campylobacter (if
applicable), and generic Escherichia coli or other indicator organisms
and share all sample results with FSIS. SIP benefits public health
because it encourages establishments to test for microbial pathogens,
which is a key feature of effective process control.
In return for meeting the conditions of SIP, the Agency grants
establishments appropriate waivers of certain regulatory requirements,
based upon establishment proposals and documentation, under FSIS
regulations at 9 CFR 303.1(h) and 381.3(b). These regulations
specifically provide for the Administrator to waive for limited periods
any provisions of the regulations to permit experimentation so that new
procedures, equipment, or processing techniques may be tested to
facilitate definite improvements. Establishments participating in SIP
agree to the conditions of SIP regarding pathogen testing and sharing
of test result data with FSIS.
The previous OMB approval for this collection was for 206,000
burden hours; however, the Agency will eliminate a substantial number
of current SIP approvals with implementation of the New Poultry
Inspection System. FSIS is asking OMB to approve a renewal of this
collection with a reduction in burden of 152,224 hours.
FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment:
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an
average of 572 hours per response.
Respondents: Official slaughter establishments that are under a
waiver.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 94.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 650.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 53,776 hours.
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.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., Room 6077, South
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 690-6510.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's
functions, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of
information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the
addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register.
FSIS will also make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food
safety news and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/programs-and-services/email-subscription-service. Options range from recalls to export information
to regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete
subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password-protect their
accounts.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status,
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs,
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or
activity conducted by the USDA.
How To File a Complaint of Discrimination
To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write
a letter signed by you or your authorized representative.
Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax,
or email:
Mail
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.
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Fax
(202) 690-7442.
Email
[email protected].
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
Done at Washington, DC, on September 16, 2014.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-22441 Filed 9-18-14; 8:45 am]
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