Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,
[Federal Register: September 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 183)]
[Notices]
[Page 51288-51289]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22se99-39]
Notices Federal Register
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-062-1]
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 issued under the Animal Welfare Act governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 22, 1999 to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to comment regarding the accuracy of burden estimate, ways to minimize the burden (such as through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology), or any other aspect of this collection of information. Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 99-062-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 99-062-1.
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 rules, are available on the Internet at http:// www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers, contact Dr. Jerry DePoyster, Animal Care Staff Officer, AC, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; (301) 734-7833; or e-mail: Jerry.D.Depoyster@usda.gov. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Cheryl Groves, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-5086.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Animal Welfare.
OMB Number: 0579-0036.
Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1999.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.
Abstract: Regulations have been promulgated under the Animal Welfare Act (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) to promote and ensure the humane care and treatment of regulated animals under the Act. Title 9, parts 1 through 3, of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) contain regulations for the care and handling of certain animals covered under the Act. The regulations in 9 CFR part 2 require documentation of specified information concerning the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research institutions, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers. The regulations also require that facilities that use animals for regulated purposes obtain a license or register with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The Act is enforced by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which performs unannounced inspections of regulated facilities. A significant component of the inspection process is review of mandatory 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. 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 concerning animal activities regulated under the Act.
The reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained in 9 CFR part 2 are necessary to enforce regulations intended to ensure the humane care and treatment of covered animals. The collected information is also used by APHIS to provide a mandatory annual Animal Welfare Enforcement report to Congress.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), we are asking the Office of Management and Budget to approve the continued use of this information collection.
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 proposed information collection 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 proposed 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
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(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 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 1.1708 hours per response.
Respondents: Research facilities, ``A'' and ``B'' dealers, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 8,564.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 9.9738.
Estimated annual number of responses: 85,416.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 100,006. (Due to rounding, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by the average 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 15th day of September 1999. Bobby R. Acord, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24678Filed9-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
