SS 0161 Swine Within a Production System

SUPPORTING STATEMENT - OMB NO. 0579-0161
INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF SWINE WITHIN A PRODUCTION SYSTEM
March 15, 2007
A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.
Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating
or authorizing the collection of information.
Title 21, U.S.C. authorizes sections 111, 114, 114a, 114-1, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a,
134c, 134f, and 134g of 21 U.S.C. These authorities permit the Secretary to prevent,
control and eliminate domestic diseases such as pseudorabies, as well as to take actions to
prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as classical swine fever and other foreign
diseases.
More specifically, 21 U.S.C. 111, 151-158, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to
take such measures as he or she may deem proper to prevent the introduction or
dissemination of any contagious or communicable disease of animals or live poultry from
a foreign country into the United States or from one State to another.
Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal
population, and for enhancing our ability to compete in the world market of animal and
animal product trade. The Veterinary Services Division of USDA’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the unit responsible for carrying out this disease
prevention mission.
The regulations under which APHIS conducts these disease prevention activities are
contained in Title 9, Subchapter C of Chapter I, which governs the interstate movement
of animals to prevent the dissemination of livestock and poultry diseases within the
United States. Subchapter C includes Parts 71 and 85. Part 71 relates to the interstate
transportation of animals, poultry, and animal products. Part 85 imposes requirements to
control the spread of pseudorabies and includes requirements for the interstate movement
of swine.
APHIS regulations in Part 71 contain requirements for moving swine interstate within a
swine production system. (A production system consists of separate farms that each
specialize in a different phase of swine production --sow herds, nursery herds, and
finishing herds. These separate farms, all members of the same production system, may
be located in more than one State.) APHIS regulations facilitate the interstate movement
of swine within a single production system while continuing to provide protection against
the interstate spread of swine diseases. Moving swine interstate within a swine
production system involves the use of two information collection activities in the form of
a swine production health plan and an interstate swine movement report.

APHIS is asking OMB to approve, for an additional 3 years, its use of these information
collection activities in connection with APHIS efforts to facilitate the interstate
movement of certain swine while continuing to protect against the interstate spread of
swine diseases.

2. Indicate how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information is
to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made
of the information received from the current collection.
Swine Production Health Plan
The Swine Production Health Plan is a document developed by participating swine
producers, stating that all farms within a given swine production system will maintain the
health of their swine and remain vigilant for any signs of communicable disease. The
plan identifies all the farms participating in the swine production system, provides for an
accredited veterinarian to perform inspections at these sites, authorizes APHIS and State
animal health officials to inspect animals and review records, documents any specific
animal health requirements of a State that is a signatory to the plan, describes the
recordkeeping system being used by the swine production system, and acknowledges that
failure to abide by the provisions of the plan constitutes a basis for cancellation of the
plan.
The Swine Production Health Plan is not valid until it is signed by all the producers in the
production system, the accredited veterinarians performing inspections for these
producers, an APHIS representative, and a State animal health official from each State in
which the production system has farms.
It should be noted that the creation of a Swine Production Health Plan is not an annual
activity; it is generated only once and then kept on file. APHIS estimates that 200 of
these plans, on average, will be developed each year.
Interstate Swine Movement Report
The Interstate Swine Movement Report is a paper or electronic (e-mail) document
initiated by swine producers to notify their accredited veterinarians, APHIS, and State
regulatory officials in the States of origin and destination that a group of animals is being
moved across State lines in a swine production system. This report must contain the
name of the swine production system; the name, location, and farm identification number
of the farm from which the swine are to be moved and the farm to which the swine are
destined; the date of the movement; the number, age, and type of swine to be moved; the
health status of the herd from which the swine are to be moved; the name of the
accredited veterinarian who regularly inspects the swine on the farm; and a statement that
the swine have been inspected and found free from signs of communicable disease by the

accredited veterinarian. APHIS estimates that each of these producers, on average, will
engage in 12 interstate movement projects each year.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the
use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of
collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to
reduce burden.
The Swine Production Health Plan requires original signatures and thus does not lend
itself to an electronic format. The Interstate Swine Movement Report is not a specific
form; it is information that can be transmitted via e-mail or fax to accredited
veterinarians, APHIS, or appropriate State offices.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar
information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose
described in item 2 above.
The information APHIS collects in connection with this program is not available from
any other source. APHIS is the only Agency responsible for preventing the interstate
spread of animal diseases.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities,
describe any methods used to minimize burden.
The Swine Production Health Plan is created only once, signed by the appropriate parties,
and then simply kept on file. This minimizes burden on swine producers.
The Interstate Swine Movement Report must include specific information, but this
information need not be presented in any particular order or format. It can also be
compiled and sent via e-mail, a speedier and more efficient process than using a written
format. This minimizes burden on swine producers.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection
is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal
obstacles to reducing burden.
If the information was collected less frequently or not collected at all, the movement of
swine interstate within a swine production systems would become less efficient and more
time-consuming, consequently placing more financial and logistical burden on producers
who regularly engage in this activity.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with the general information collection guidelines in 5 CFR
1320.5.
The information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines
established in 5 CFR 1320.5.

8. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views
on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and
recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting form, and on the data elements to be
recorded, disclosed, or reported. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date
and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice,
soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB.
In 2007 APHIS has engaged in productive consultations with the following individuals in
connection with the information collection requirements associated with this program:
David Preisler
Minnesota Pork Producers Association
360 Pierce Avenue, Suite 106
North Mankato, MN 56003
(507) 345-8814
Dr. Beth Lautner
National Pork Producers Council
122 C Street NW, Suite 875
Washington, DC 20204
(515) 223-2773
Jeff Schnell
Iowa Pork Producers Association
1636 NW 114 Street
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 225-7675
On Wednesday, March 21, 2007, pages 13236-13237, APHIS published in the Federal
Register, a 60-day notice seeking public comments on its plans to request a 3-year
renewal of this collection of information. No comments from the public were received.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than
reenumeration of contractors or grantees.
This information collection activity involves no payments or gifts to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis
for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
No additional assurance of confidentiality is provided with this information collection.
However, the confidentiality of information is protected under 5 U.S.C. 552a.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as
sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly
considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency
considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information,
the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and
any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
This information collection activity will ask no questions of a personal or sensitive
nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate
the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an
explanation of how the burden was estimated.
• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden,
and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval
covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form
and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I.
See APHIS Form 71. Burden estimates were developed from discussions with swine
producers, accredited veterinarians, and State animal health officials.
• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for
collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.
Respondents are swine producers operating within swine production systems. APHIS
estimates the total annualized cost to these respondents to be $35,000.00. APHIS arrived
at this figure by multiplying the hours of estimated response time (1,000) by the
estimated average hourly wage of the above respondents ($35.00).

13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or
recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information (do not include the cost

of any hour burden shown in items 12 and 14). The cost estimates should be split
into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component annualized
over its expected useful life; and (b) a total operation and maintenance and
purchase of services component.
There is zero annual cost burden associated with capital and start-up costs, operation and
maintenance expenditures, and purchase of services.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Provide a
description of the method used to estimate cost and any other expense that would
not have been incurred without this collection of information.
The annualized cost to the Federal government is estimated at $51,129.71.
(See APHIS Form 79.)

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items
13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-1.
APHIS estimates regarding the number of annual responses and total annual burden hours
remain unchanged.

16. For collections of information whose results are planned to be published, outline
plans for tabulation and publication.
APHIS has no plans to publish information APHIS collects in connection with this
program.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
There are no forms associated with this information collection.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the
"Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act."
APHIS can certify compliance with all provisions of the Act.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
Statistical methods are not employed in this information collection activity.