73 FR 215 pgs. 65820-65821 - Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; National Veterinary Accreditation Program
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 215Pages: 65820 - 65821
Docket number: [Docket No. APHIS-2008-0115]
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-26385 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Agriculture Department
Sub Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0115]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; National Veterinary Accreditation Program
AGENCY:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION:
Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the national veterinary accreditation program.
DATES:
We will consider all comments that we receive on or before January 5, 2009.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetaild=APHIS-2007-0115 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0115, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0115.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room 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., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information on the veterinary accreditation program, contact Ms. Lynn Thomas, Management Analyst, Surveillance and Identification Programs, NCAHP, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5777. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Veterinary Accreditation Program.
OMB Number: 0579-0032.
Type of Request: 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 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 animal diseases and pests and for eradicating such diseases when feasible.
To help us accomplish our mission, APHIS' Veterinary Services (VS) administers the National Veterinary Accreditation Program. This program accredits and authorizes private veterinary practitioners to work cooperatively with Federal veterinarians, as well as with State animal health officials, to conduct certain activities for us. Accredited veterinarians are instrumental in increasing our capacity to perform health certifications and conduct extensive disease surveillance and monitoring.
The program requires the use of certain information collection activities, including VS Form 1-36A (Application for Veterinary Accreditation), explanation statement for refused endorsement, updated contact information, and veterinary accreditation certificate.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities 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 information collection, 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 information collection 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 0.35289 hours per response.
Respondents: Private veterinary practitioners, State animal health officials, accredited veterinarians.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,001.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.70
Estimated annual number of responses: 8,501.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,001 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 30th day of October 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26385 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
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