Ss 0165

SUPPORTING STATEMENT 0579-0165

IMPORTATION OF HORSES, RUMINANTS, SWINE, AND DOGS; INSPECTION AND TREATMENT OF SCREWWORM

August 7, 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 7, U.S.C. 8301, The Animal Health Protection Act, authorizes the Secretary to prevent, control, and eliminate domestic diseases such as brucellosis, as well as to take actions to prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as exotic Newcastle disease, screwworm, and other foreign diseases.

The Agency charged with carrying out this disease prevention mission is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This Agency regulates the importation of animals and animal products into the United States to guard against the introduction of exotic animal diseases.

Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing APHIS’ ability to compete in the world market of animal and animal product trade.

The regulations under which we conduct these disease prevention activities are contained in Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter D, Parts 91 through 99 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations govern the importation of animals, birds and poultry, certain animal and poultry products, and animal germplasm.

APHIS requires horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs imported into the United States from regions of the world where screwworm is known to exist to be inspected and, if necessary, treated for infestation with screwworm. These animals must also be accompanied to the United States with a certificate stating that the above actions were taken.

Screwworm is a pest native to tropical areas of South America, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, tropical and sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula that cause’s extensive damage to livestock and other warm-blooded animals. Screwworm was eradicated from the United States in 1966. However, in July 1999 and again in February and March 2000, screwworm larvae were found in horses imported into the United States from Venezuela and Argentina.

APHIS is asking OMB to approve, for an additional 3 years, its use of certification statements in connection with its program to prevent the introduction of screwworm into the United States.

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.

Certificates

Horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs entering the United States from regions where screwworm is known to exist must be accompanied by a certificate, issued and signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the exporting country, stating that these animals have been thoroughly examined, that they have been treated with ivermectin, that any visible wounds have been treated with camaphos, and that the animals appear to be free of screwworm. In the case of dogs that will be used for handling livestock, this certificate must also state that the dogs were tested and, if necessary, treated for tapeworm within 5 days preceding shipment to the United States.

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 certificate has to be signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the exporting region stating the animal has been inspected. No APHIS form is involved.

In the meantime, APHIS is keeping this information collection burden to the absolute minimum necessary to obtain the data APHIS needs to effectively ensure that animals from certain regions pose a negligible risk of introducing screwworm into the United States.

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 introduction of exotic animal diseases and parasites into the United States.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

This information collection does not impact small businesses or other small entities. Completing the necessary certificate is the responsibility of full-time salaried veterinary officials of the national government of the exporting region.

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, it would significantly cripple APHIS’ ability to ensure that horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs imported into the United States are not carrying screwworm. Such a development would make a screwworm incursion much more likely, with economically damaging effects on the U.S. equine, cattle, and swine industries.

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 engaged in productive consultations with the following individuals in connection with the information collection requirements associated with this program:

Dr. Paul Sundberg

National Pork Producers Council

P.O. Box 10383

Des Moines, IA 50306

(515) 223-2600

Amy Mann

American Horse Council

1700 K Street NW, Suite 3000

Washington, DC 20006

202-296-4031

Joan Rowe

American Dairy and Goat Association

1114 Tupper Hall

University of California

Davis, California 95616

530-752-0292

On Friday July 13, 2007, pages 38554-38555, APHIS published in the Federal Register, a 60-day notice seeking public comments on APHIS’ plans to request a 3-year renewal for this information collection. 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 full-time salaried veterinary officials of the exporting regions.

•Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.

APHIS estimates the total annualized cost to the above respondents to be $1,000. APHIS arrived at this figure by multiplying the hours of estimated response time (40 hours) by the estimated average hourly wage of the above respondents ($25.00).

$25.00 hourly rate is derived from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics June 2003 Report – National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, July 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncb10539.pdf.

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 $96,195. (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-I.

There are no program changes or adjustments reported.

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 it 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 USDA 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 under the Act.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.

Statistical methods are not employed in this information collection activity.