SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Certain Other Ruminants.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0453.

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 of livestock and to conduct programs to detect, control, and eradicate pests and diseases of livestock.

APHIS regulates the importation of animals and animal products into the United States to guard against the introduction of animal diseases. The regulations in Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) parts 91, 93, 94, 95, and 96 govern the importation of certain animals, birds, poultry, meat, other animal products and byproducts, hay, and straw into the United States to prevent the introduction of diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a chronic degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of cattle. The regulations also help prevent the spread of diseases currently in the United States, such as scrapie.

APHIS uses a variety of information collection procedures and forms to gather data in its efforts to prevent the introduction or spread of disease. Information collected via these procedures and forms includes, but is not limited to, the names of the exporter and importer of the animal commodities; the origins of the animals or animal products to be imported; the health status of the animals or the processing methods used to produce animal products to be imported; the destination of delivery in the United States; and whether the animals or animal products were temporarily offloaded in another country during transit to the United States.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities 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 burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .5 hours per response.

Respondents: Importers of animals, animal products, and animal germplasm into the United States; foreign exporters of these items; foreign animal health authorities; and State animal health authorities.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 741.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 22.

Estimated annual number of responses: 16,406.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 8,260 hours. (Due to ( printed page 44001) 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.

90 FR 44000