[Federal Register: December 24, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 247)]
[Notices]
[Page 74545]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24de03-38]
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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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[[Page 74545]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 03-114-1]
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.
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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 an extension of approval of an information
collection in support of the export of animals and animal products from
the United States.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
February 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. 03-114-1, 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. 03-114-1. 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.
03-114-1'' 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 export of animals and animal products from the United
States, contact Dr. Roger Perkins, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Technical
Trade Services, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-8364. 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: U.S. Origin Health Certificate.
OMB Number: 0579-0020.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The export of agricultural commodities, including animals
and animal products, is a major business in the United States and
contributes to a favorable balance of trade. As part of its mission,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) maintains
information regarding the import health requirements of other countries
for animals and animal products exported from the United States.
Most countries require a certification that our animals are free
from specific diseases and show no clinical evidence of disease. This
certification must carry the USDA seal and be endorsed by an APHIS,
APHIS accredited, or State veterinarian. VS Form 17-140, U.S. Origin
Health Certificate, is used to meet this requirement.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of this form 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 0.5004548 hours per response.
Respondents: APHIS accredited and State veterinarians; animal
owners; and exporters. Estimated annual number of respondents : 3,000.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 15.0223.
Estimated annual number of responses: 45,067.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 22,554 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 December, 2003.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-31657 Filed 12-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P