Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the interstate movement of sheep and goats and recordkeeping for approved livestock facilities and slaughtering and rendering establishments.
We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 24, 2015.
You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
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Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at
For information on the interstate movement of sheep and goats and recordkeeping for approved livestock facilities and slaughtering and rendering establishments, contact Dr. Gary S. Ross, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Surveillance, Cattle Health Center, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–3535. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–2727.
APHIS regulations in 9 CFR part 71 restrict the interstate movement of livestock, including sheep and goats, to control the spread of disease and include provisions for livestock facilities that handle livestock moving in interstate commerce to be approved by APHIS. These requirements are intended to ensure that such facilities are constructed and operated in a manner that will help prevent the spread of disease and involve information collection activities, including an Approval of Livestock Facilities Agreement and recordkeeping.
The regulations in § 71.20 contain provisions under which livestock facilities
Section 71.20 also requires, among other things, authorized personnel at approved livestock facilities to sign an agreement that they will meet the requirements listed in that section, such as ensuring the facilities contain well-constructed and well-lighted livestock handling chutes, pens, alleys, and sales rings and allowing APHIS or its representatives to inspect, officially identify, vaccinate, take blood and tissue specimens for testing purposes.
Section 71.21 of the regulations requires, among other things, authorized personnel at listed slaughtering and rendering facilities to sign an agreement that they will meet the requirements listed in that section, such as providing office and sample collection space and allowing APHIS or its representatives to take blood and tissue specimens from livestock, record the identification of animals, retain any external or internal identification devices, and conduct records inspections. The listing agreement is the VS Listing Agreement for a Slaughter Establishment Handling Livestock or Livestock Carcasses (Non-
This notice includes a description of the information collection requirements currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for recordkeeping for approved livestock facilities and slaughtering and rendering establishments under number 0579–0342, and for the interstate movement of sheep and goats under number 0579–0258. These collections pertain to the same regulations (§§ 71.20 and 71.21); therefore, we will consolidate them into one collection. After OMB approves and combines the burden for both collections under one collection (number 0579–0258), the Department will retire number 0579–0342.
We are asking OMB to approve our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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;
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.