SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Permanent, Privately Owned Horse Quarantine Facilities.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0313.

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 importation and interstate movement of animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into and dissemination within the United States of livestock diseases and pests. To carry out this mission, APHIS regulates the importation of animals and animal products into the United States based on the regulations in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.

The regulations in part 93 require, among other things, that certain animals, as a condition of entry, be quarantined upon arrival in the United States. APHIS operates animal quarantine facilities and also authorizes the use of quarantine facilities that are privately owned and operated for certain animal importations.

The regulations in subpart C of part 93 pertain to the importation of horses and include requirements for privately owned quarantine facilities for horses. For permanent, privately owned quarantine facilities, these requirements entail certain information collection activities, including environmental certification, application for facility approval, service agreements, requests to APHIS concerning withdrawal of facility approval, notification to APHIS of facility closure, memoranda of understanding (compliance agreements), security instructions, alarm notification, notification of security breaches, lists of personnel, signed statements, authorized access affidavits, daily logs and recordkeeping, requests for variance, and standard operating procedures.

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. APHIS has amended this information collection by decreasing the Estimate of Burden and increasing the number of Estimated Annual Number of Responses, Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent, and the Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents.

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 0.426 hours per response.

Respondents: Applicants who apply for facility approval; owners and operators of permanent, privately owned horse quarantine facilities; facility employees; authorities who issue and complete environmental certifications; and employees of security companies.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 17.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 91.

Estimated annual number of responses: 1,539.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 655 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.