Notice of Request for a Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Tuberculosis

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Revision to and extension of approval of an 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 request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the tuberculosis regulations.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 17, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0058.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2016-0058, 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-2016-0058 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 domestic tuberculosis program, contact Dr. C. William Hench, Cattle Health Center Staff Veterinarian, Surveillance, Preparedness and Response Services, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117; (970) 494-7378. 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: Tuberculosis.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0146.

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 prohibit or restrict the interstate movement of animals and animal products to prevent the dissemination within the United States of animal diseases and pests and for conducting programs to detect, control, and eradicate pests and diseases of livestock. In connection with this mission, APHIS participates in a cooperative State/Federal tuberculosis eradication program, which is a national program to eliminate tuberculosis from the United States. This program is conducted under various States' authorities supplemented by Federal authorities regulating the interstate movement of affected animals.

The tuberculosis regulations contained in 9 CFR part 77 provide several levels of tuberculosis risk classifications to be applied to States and zones within States, and classify States and zones according to their tuberculosis risk. The regulations restrict the interstate movement of cattle, bison, and captive cervids from the various classes of States or zones to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

These regulations include, but are not limited to, information collection activities, such as memoranda of understanding; agreements; reports; testing records and status reports; plans, permits, and certificates; specimen submissions; risk surveys; proceeds from animals, animal products, and materials sold for salvage; appraisal and indemnity claims; labeling; and recordkeeping.

The information collection requirements above are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0579-0146, Tuberculosis, and OMB Control Number 0579-0412, Approved Tests for Bovine Tuberculosis in Cervids. After OMB approves this combined information collection package (0579-0146), APHIS will retire OMB Control Number 0579-0412.

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 0.33 hours per response.

Respondents: State animal health officials, producers and owners (including feedlot owners), accredited veterinarians, laboratory personnel, and professional appraisers.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 4,574.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.

Estimated annual number of responses: 90,453.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 29,514 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.