SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: National Veterinary Accreditation Program.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0297.

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 Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to protect the health of U.S. livestock by preventing the introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating such diseases from the United States when feasible. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). In connection with this mission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture established the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) so that accredited private practitioners can assist Federal veterinarians in controlling animal diseases and facilitating the movement of animals. Regulations concerning the accreditation of veterinarians and the suspension and revocation of accreditation are in 9 CFR parts 160 through 162.

NVAP is a voluntary program that is administered by APHIS. As part of this program, APHIS uses an NVAP application form to collect information regarding an applicant's eligibility for accreditation and, among other things, to update an individual's contact information and renew or revise his or her accreditation status.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of this information collection activity, as described, for an additional 3 years. APHIS has amended this information collection due to a decrease in the estimated annual number of Respondents and Responses, and an increase in the estimated Annual Burden Hours resulting from an increase in time required to complete the accreditation application.

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 1.0 hour per response.

Respondents: Veterinarians.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 22,581.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.

Estimated annual number of responses: 22,582.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 22,582 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.