Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding; 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to ( printed page 59102) respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments regarding this information collection received by October 19, 2026 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

Title: Emergency Management Response System (EMRS).

OMB Control Number: 0579-0071.

Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 2002 is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal health. The law gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or poultry. The Secretary may also prohibit or restrict import or export of any animal or related material if necessary to prevent the spread of any livestock or poultry pest or disease. Through the Foreign Animal Disease Surveillance Program, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services compiles essential epidemiological and diagnostic data that are used to define foreign animal diseases (FAD) and their risk factors. The data is compiled through the Veterinary Services Emergency Management Response System, a web-based database for reporting investigations of suspected FAD occurrences.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS collects information such as the purpose of the diagnostician's visit to the site, the name and address of the owner/manager and the site, the type of operation being investigated, the number of and type of animals on the premises, vaccination information on the animals in the herd or flock, biosecurity practices at the site, whether any animals have been moved to or from the premises and when this movement occurred, number of sick or dead animals, the results of physical examinations of the affected animals, the results of postmortem examinations, and the number and kinds of samples taken, and the name of the suspected disease.

APHIS uses the collected information to effectively prevent FAD occurrences and protect the health of the United States. Without the information, APHIS has no way to detect and monitor FAD outbreaks in the United States.

Description of Respondents: Businesses; and State, Local or Tribal Governments.

Number of Respondents: 158.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting, on occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 24,703.