Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
[Federal Register: November 24, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 226)]
[Notices]
[Page 65869]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24no03-18]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 03-103-1]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an information collection in support of the regulations for the importation of pork and pork products and live swine from the Mexican States of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa.
DATES: We will consider all comments we receive on or before January 23, 2004.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket No. 03-103-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 03-103-1. If you use e-mail, address your comment to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comment must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 03-103-1'' on the subject line.
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.
APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations regarding the importation of pork and pork products and live swine from the Mexican States of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa, contact Dr. Hatim Gubara, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4356. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Classical Swine Fever; Importation of Pork and Pork Products and Live Swine from the Mexican States of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa.
OMB Number: 0579-0230.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301- 8317), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, regulates the importation of animals and animals products into the United States to prevent the introduction of animal diseases, such as classical swine fever (CSF), into the United States.
The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 allow the importation of pork and products and live swine from the Mexican States of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa under conditions designed to ensure that the pork and pork products and live swine will not transmit CSF. This disease is not present in those States but exists in other parts of Mexico. The conditions for importation require, among other things, certification from a full-time salaried veterinary officer of the Government of Mexico that the pork or pork products or live swine originated in a CSF-free region and have not been commingled with swine or pork or pork products from CSF-affected regions.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of this information collection activity 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 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: Federal animal health authorities in Mexico.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 5.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.
Estimated annual number of responses: 50.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 50 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, 2003. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-29235 Filed 11-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
