Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 8792-8793 [2023-02869]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8792-8793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02869]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 2023 / 
Notices

[[Page 8792]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; 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; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by March 
13, 2023 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Table Eggs from Regions Where Newcastle 
Disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is Considered to Exist 
and Exportation of Poultry and Hatching Eggs.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0328.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 
2002 is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal 
health. The law gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to 
detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or 
poultry. Veterinary Services, a program with the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for administering 
regulations intended to prevent the dissemination of animal disease 
within the United States. Regulations in title 9, Code of Federal 
Regulations, section 94.6 deal specifically with the importation of 
table eggs from certain regions that may pose a risk of introducing 
Newcastle Disease (ND) into the United States. Although this collection 
applies to any region where ND is considered to exist, the United 
States is not currently importing table eggs from any ND-affected 
region.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS uses the following 
information activities to requires that U.S. exporters use a health 
certificate to ensure poultry and hatching eggs are free of disease: 
(1) a certificate for table eggs from ND-affected regions; and (2) a 
government seal issued by the veterinarian accredited by the national 
government who signed the certificate. APHIS will also use form VS-17-
6, Export Health Certificate for Poultry or Hatching Eggs for Export. 
If the information were collected less frequently or not collected at 
all, APHIS would be unable to establish an effective defense against 
the incursion of ND from table eggs imported from ND-affected regions. 
This would cause serious economic consequences for U.S. poultry 
industry, which would be unable to export poultry and hatching eggs.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 201.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,405.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Case-Control Study of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in 
Poultry 2022.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0483.
    Summary of Collection: Collection and dissemination of animal 
health data and information is mandated by 7 U.S.C. 391, the Animal 
Industry Act of 1884, which established the precursor of the APHIS, 
Veterinary Services, the Bureau of Animal Industry. Legal requirements 
for examining and reporting on animal disease control methods were 
further mandated by 7 U.S.C. 8308 of the Animal Health Protection Act, 
``Detection, Control, and Eradication of Diseases and Pests,'' May 13, 
2002. This collection of commercial table egg flock data is consistent 
with the APHIS mission of protecting and improving American 
agriculture's productivity and competitiveness.
    In 2015, the United States experienced an outbreak of HPAI that has 
been described as the worst animal health event in U.S. history, 
requiring over $950,000,000 in federal expenditures and a loss of 
nearly 50 million birds. At that time, in Iowa alone, more than 30 
million table egg layers and pullets were lost to infection or 
depopulation. This represented a loss of 52% of the Iowa table egg 
layer inventory.
    Since that time, Federal, State, and industry groups have promoted 
biosecurity and preparedness efforts and engaged in research that has 
guided prevention work to minimize future outbreaks. Though the 2022 
outbreak of HPAI has a wider geographic distribution, the impacts have 
been lessened. However, these effects are still devastating. As of the 
end of May 2022, nearly $800 million in federal expenditures has been 
authorized. Over 58 million birds have been lost to infection or 
depopulation, and over 70 percent of these birds are commercial table 
egg layers, pullets, and breeder birds.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using a questionnaire that include questions on-farm practices 
including current biosecurity practices, ecology and wild birds/
wildlife, farm worker practices, equipment, egg handling, dead bird 
handling, and barn-level parameters. This information can support 
informed

[[Page 8793]]

decision-making for producers seeking to protect themselves against 
future infection.
    Without information on the most likely routes of disease 
introduction, flock managers are unable to implement updated science-
informed approaches to preventing infection and/or spread.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
local or Tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 270.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 155.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-02869 Filed 2-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P