Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Live Poultry, Poultry Meat, and Other Poultry Products From Specified Regions, 15677-15678 [2016-06659]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15677-15678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06659]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0094]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Live Poultry, Poultry Meat, and 
Other Poultry Products From Specified Regions

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 approval of a revision to and extension of an 
information collection associated with regulations for the importation 
of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from 
specified regions.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0094.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0094, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-
0094 or in our reading room, which 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.,

[[Page 15678]]

Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the importation of 
live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from specified 
regions into the United States, contact Dr. Magde Elshafie, Senior 
Staff Veterinarian, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3332. For copies of 
more detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. 
Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
851-2727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation of Live Poultry, Poultry Meat, and Other Poultry 
Products From Specified Regions.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0228.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the authority of the Animal Health Protection Act 
(7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) of the United States 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 the mission, APHIS regulates 
the importation of animals and animal products into the United States. 
The regulations are contained in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.
    In part 94, Sec.  94.33 allows the importation, subject to certain 
conditions, of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products 
from certain regions, including Argentina and the Mexican States of 
Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan, that are free of Newcastle 
disease. The conditions for importation require, among other things, 
certification from a full-time salaried veterinary officer of the 
national government of the exporting region that poultry and poultry 
products exported from one of these regions originated in that region 
(or in another region recognized by APHIS as free of Newcastle disease) 
and that before the export to the United States, the poultry and 
poultry products were not commingled with poultry and poultry products 
from regions where Newcastle disease exists.
    In addition, the regulations in Sec.  94.6 include provisions that 
allow poultry meat that originates in the United States to be shipped, 
for processing purposes, to a region where Newcastle disease exists and 
then returned to the United States. These provisions require the use of 
four information collection activities: (1) A certificate of origin 
that must be issued, including serial numbers that must be recorded; 
(2) maintenance of records; (3) cooperative service agreements that 
must be signed; and (4) certificates for shipment back to the United 
States.
    The information collection requirements above are currently 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the 
importation of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products 
from specified regions under number 0579-0228, and U.S. origin poultry 
meat shipped, for processing purposes, to a region where Newcastle 
disease exists and returned to the United States under number 0579-
0141. After OMB approves and combines the burden for both collections 
under one collection (number 0579-0228), the Department will retire 
number 0579-0141.
    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; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Federal animal health authorities of certain regions 
that export live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products; 
importers; pet bird owners; and zoological facilities.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 48.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.229.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 203.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 205 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 17th day of March 2016.
Kevin Shea,
 Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06659 Filed 3-23-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P