83 FR 32260 - Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Animal Welfare

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 134 (July 12, 2018)

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 Animal Welfare Act regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32260-32261]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14945]


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 134 / Thursday, July 12, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 32260]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0032]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Animal Welfare

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the Animal Welfare Act 
regulations for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of certain animals by dealers, research facilities, 
exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0032.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0032, 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-2018-
0032 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 Animal Welfare 
Act regulations, contact Dr. Kay Carter-Corker, Director, National 
Policy Staff, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 84, Riverdale, 
MD 20737; (301) 851-3748. For copies of more detailed information on 
the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' 
Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Animal Welfare.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0036.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et 
seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to promulgate 
standards and other requirements governing the humane handling, care, 
treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, 
exhibitors, operators of auction sales, research facilities, carriers 
and intermediate handlers. The Secretary has delegated responsibility 
for administering the AWA to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care.
    Definitions, regulations, and standards established under the AWA 
are contained in 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3 (referred to below as the 
regulations). Part 1 contains definitions for terms used in parts 2 and 
3. Part 2 provides administrative requirements and sets forth 
institutional responsibilities for regulated parties, including 
licensing requirements for dealers, exhibitors, and operators of 
auction sales. Dealers, exhibitors, and operators of auction sales are 
required to comply in all respects with the regulations and standards 
(9 CFR 2.100(a)) and to allow APHIS officials access to their place of 
business, facilities, animals, and records to inspect for compliance (9 
CFR 2.126). Part 3 provides standards for the humane handling, care, 
treatment, and transportation of covered animals. Part 3 consists of 
subparts A through E, which contain specific standards for dogs and 
cats, guinea pigs and hamsters, rabbits, nonhuman primates, and marine 
mammals, respectively, and subpart F, which sets forth general 
standards for warmblooded animals not otherwise specified in part 3.
    Administering the AWA requires the use of several information 
collection activities such as license applications and renewals, which 
now include a request to identify whether the business mailing address 
is a personal residence or not a personal residence; registration 
applications and updates; annual reports; acknowledgement of 
regulations and standards; inspections; requests; notifications; 
agreements; plans; written program of veterinary care and health 
records; itineraries; applications and permits; records of acquisition, 
disposition, or transport of animals; official identification; 
variances; protocols; health certificates; complaints; marking 
requirements; and recordkeeping.
    These information collection activity requirements provide APHIS 
with the data necessary for the review and evaluation of program 
compliance by regulated facilities, and they provide a workable 
enforcement system to carry out the requirements of the AWA and the 
intent of Congress without resorting to more detailed and stringent 
regulations and standards that could be more burdensome to regulated 
facilities.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (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.

[[Page 32261]]

    Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.31 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-
profit entities; not-for-profit institutions; farms; and State, local, 
and Tribal governments.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 9,112.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 128.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,164,553.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 366,021 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 9th day of July 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-14945 Filed 7-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P