SUPPORTING STATEMENT 0579-0185
BRUCELLOSIS IN SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES; PAYMENT OF INDEMNITY
September 17, 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. 117 Animal Industry Act of 1884, 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 enhancing our ability to compete in the world market of animal and animal product trade.
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 (USDA). Our regulations for preventing the dissemination of animal diseases within the United States are contained in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter B --Cooperative Control and Eradication of Livestock or Poultry Diseases. Veterinary Services, a division within USDA-APHIS, is responsible for administering these regulations.
Brucellosis is a contagious disease that causes loss of young through spontaneous abortion or birth of weak offspring, reduced milk production, and infertility. It is mainly a disease of cattle, bison, and swine. Sheep, goats, and horses are also susceptible, but are rarely infected. There is no economically feasible treatment for brucellosis in livestock.
The continued presence of brucellosis in a herd or flock seriously threatens the health of other animals. To prevent any possible spread of infection, APHIS asks livestock owners to promptly destroy all infected and exposed animals. To encourage them, APHIS pays Federal indemnity for goats, sheep, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis.
APHIS regulations governing indemnity for goats, sheep, and horses are contained in 9 CFR 51. Providing indemnity for sheep, goats, and horses is a crucial tool in encouraging owners of infected or exposed animals to destroy them and eliminate these sources of infection.
Continuing this indemnity program necessitates the use of several information collection activities (including the completion of indemnity claims, test records, and permits; the use of official seals and animal identification; and submission of proof of destruction documentation and requests for extension of certain program-related deadlines).
APHIS is asking OMB to approve, for an additional 3 years, its use of certification statements in connection with the Brucellosis program.
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.
The information collection activities described below are needed to provide indemnity to owners of sheep, goats, or horses destroyed because of brucellosis. It should be noted that these particular animals rarely contract this disease. APHIS is establishing this indemnity program simply as a safeguard in the event that brucellosis is detected in a flock or herd of these animals. Having this program in place will enable APHIS to purchase infected or exposed animals in a timely manner, thus preventing the possibility of disease spread.
Indemnity Claim VS 1-23
Animal owners must submit their indemnity claims for sheep, goats, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis to the APHIS Veterinarian-in-Charge using an indemnity claim form furnished by APHIS. On this form the owner records such information as the owner's name and address, the number of animals for which the owner is claming indemnity, and the species of animals for which the owner is claiming indemnity.
Test Records VS 4-33
An APHIS representative, State representative, or accredited veterinarian must compile, on an APHIS-approved form, a complete test record for each animal for which indemnity is being claimed. The animal's owner must provide any information necessary to complete this form. The test record must include such information as the type of test used for each animal, the test results for each animal, and the individual identification of each animal.
Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals VS Form 1-27
The VS 1-27 is an interstate movement permit that is completed by a Federal animal health official (usually an animal health technician), completes with the assistance of the owner of the animals, signed at the point of origin by the owner of the animals being moved, and signed again at the point of destination (usually by the owner/operator of a slaughtering plant or quarantined feedlot). The VS 1-27 lists the owners name and address, the number of animals being moved, their destination point, and the brucellosis status of their herd. The VS 1-27 allows APHIS to monitor the interstate movement of brucellosis-exposed or suspect animals. APHIS does this to ensure that all brucellosis-exposed or suspect animals arrive at their appropriate destination point, and are not diverted to other locations where they could come into contact with healthy animals.
Official Seals
Sheep, goats, and horses to be destroyed because of brucellosis must be accompanied by a permit, and must be either (1) accompanied directly to slaughter by an APHIS or State representative, or (2) moved in vehicles closed with official USDA seals applied and removed by an APHIS representative, State representative, accredited veterinarian, or an individual authorized for this purpose by an APHIS representative. The official seal numbers must be recorded on the accompanying permit. The official seal is another line of defense we employ to ensure that brucellosis infected or exposed animals are not removed from their vehicle until they reach their assigned destination.
Proof of Destruction
Prior to receiving indemnity for animals destroyed because of brucellosis, the owner must submit proof of destruction documents to the APHIS Veterinarian-in-Charge. These documents may include a postmortem report, a meat inspection certification of slaughter, a written statement by a State representative, APHIS representative, or accredited veterinarian attesting to the destruction of the animals; a written, sworn statement by the owner or caretaker of the animal attesting to the destruction of the animals; or a permit (VS Form 1-27) consigning the animal from a farm or livestock market directly to a slaughter establishment.
Animal Identification
The animal owner must ensure that any sheep, goats, or horses for which indemnity is claimed are marked with individually numbered identification showing that these animals are to be destroyed. "Reactor" eartags can be employed for this purpose.
Extension Request
Eartags or other forms of animal identification must be applied within 15 days after the animals are condemned. The APHIS Veterinarian- in-Charge may extend this time limit to 30 days if he or she receives a request (either verbally or in writing) to extend the time limit. After the condemned animals are removed from their holding location, all structures, holding facilities, conveyances, and materials contaminated due to the presence of these animals must be properly cleaned and disinfected within 15 days from the date the animals are removed. The APHIS Veterinarian-in-Charge may extend this time limit to 30 days if he or she receives a request (either verbally or in writing) to extend the time limit.
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 indemnity claim forms, test records, and permits employed in this program do not readily lend themselves to electronic submission since an original signature is required on these documents. However, requests for extending certain deadlines associated with this program can be made via phone, fax, or electronically, as well as in writing.
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 that APHIS collects is not available from any other source. APHIS is the only Federal Agency responsible for preventing, detecting, controlling, and eradicating brucellosis from the United States.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
The information APHIS is collecting in connection with this program is the minimum needed to ensure that sheep, goats, and horses condemned because of brucellosis are handled in such a way that they do not pose a health threat to the U.S. livestock population.
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.
Collecting this information less frequently or failing to collect it would make it impossible for us to effectively operate an indemnity program for sheep, goats, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis. This would make it much more difficult for us to eliminate this particular source of brucellosis infection in the United States.
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.
This 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 concerning the information collection activities associated with this program:
Dr. Bob Hillman
State Veterinarian and Executive Director, Texas Animal Health Division
Texas Animal Health Commission
P.O. Box 12966, Austin Texas 78711
2105 Kramer Lane, Austin Texas 78758
(512) 719-0700
Kerry Thompson
Director of Regulatory Affairs
American Horse Council
1616 H Street NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 296-4031 ext 201
Mr. Paul Rodgers
9785 Maroon Circle, Suite 360
Centennial, CO 80112
(303) 771-3500
On Wednesday, August 8, 2007, pages 44483 – 44484, APHIS published in the Federal Register, a 60-day notice seeking public comments on its plans to request a 3-year renewal of 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 sheep, goat, and horse owners who may be eligible to participate in a brucellosis indemnity program; accredited veterinarians, State veterinarians, slaughter plant operators, and other program cooperators.
•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 respondents to be $25.00. APHIS arrived at this figure by multiplying the hours of estimated response time (1 hour) by the estimated average hourly wage of the above respondents ($25.00).
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 $120.24. (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.
The Brucellosis program determined that the previous collection did not account for the cleaning and disinfection requirements. Therefore, resulting in an burden increase of 1 hour.
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.
If forms were to be discarded because of an outdated OMB expiration date, but otherwise usable, higher printing costs would be incurred by the Federal Government. Therefore, APHIS is seeking approval to not display the OMB expiration date on its forms.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement, "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.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT 0579-0165 |
| Author | Kay Brown |
| Last Modified By | usda |
| File Modified | 2007-11-26 |
| File Created | 2007-11-26 |