Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Emergency Management Response System

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 the Emergency Management Response System.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 14, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0108-0001.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2011-0108, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0108 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., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information on the Emergency Management Response System, contact Dr. Steven Finch, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Preparedness and Incident Coordination Staff, NCAHEM, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-0823. 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: Emergency Management Response System.

OMB Number: 0579-0071.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), among other things, administers regulations intended to prevent foreign diseases of livestock or poultry from being introduced into the United States, conducts surveillance for the early detection of such foreign animal diseases, and conducts eradication programs if such foreign diseases are detected.

Through our automated Emergency Management Response System (EMRS), APHIS helps manage and investigate potential incidents of foreign animal diseases in the United States.

When a potential foreign animal disease incident is reported, APHIS dispatches a foreign animal disease veterinary diagnostician to the site to conduct an investigation. The diagnostician obtains vital epidemiologic data by conducting field investigations, including sample collection, and by interviewing the owner or manager of the premises being investigated. These important data, submitted electronically by the diagnostician into EMRS, include such items as the number of sick or dead animals on the premises, the results of necropsy examinations, vaccination information on the animals in the flock or herd, biosecurity practices at the site, whether any animals were recently moved out of the herd or flock, whether any new animals were recently introduced into the herd or flock, and detailed geographic data concerning premises location. The web-based system allows epidemiological and diagnostic data to be documented and transmitted more efficiently.

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 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: Owners and operators of livestock and poultry facilities and State animal health officials.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 471.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 4.

Estimated annual number of responses: 1,884.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,884 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.