ss.2010

Supporting Statement

Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter (0579-0160)

April 5, 2010

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.

Sections 901–905 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996
(7 U.S.C. 1901) authorize the Secretary to issue guidelines for regulating the commercial transportation of horses to slaughter by persons regularly engaged in that activity within the United States. Specifically, the Secretary is authorized to regulate the food, water, and rest provided to these horses while the horses are in transit and to review other related issues that may be appropriate to ensuring that these animals are treated humanely.

To implement the provisions of this Act, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established minimum standards to ensure the humane movement of horses to slaughtering facilities via commercial transportation. These standards, contained in title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, part 88, require that food, water, and rest be provided to these animals. APHIS’ regulations prohibit the commercial transportation of horses considered to be unfit for travel and the use of electric prods on these animals.

Implementing these regulations entails the use of information collection activities, such as providing business information, completing an owner/shipper certificate and continuation sheet, and maintaining records of the owner/shipper certificate and continuation sheet.

APHIS is asking OMB to approve, for an additional 3 years, its use of these information collection activities in connection with the efforts to ensure that horses being transported to slaughter receive adequate food, water, and rest and are treated humanely.

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.

Business Information

APHIS representatives may ask for information from the driver of a transport vehicle (or the driver’s company) to determine if the regulations apply to the driver and the horses being transported. This information must be submitted to APHIS within 30 days.

Owner/Shipper Certificate Fitness to Travel to a Slaughter Facility, VS Form 10-13

Before the commercial transportation of horses to a slaughtering establishment, the shipper or owner must complete and sign an owner/shipper certificate for each shipment of horses. If ownership of the horses is transferred to the slaughtering facilities before the movement of horses to slaughter, the owners or operators of slaughtering facilities complete the form. The form provides space for listing up to 15 horses. This document must accompany the horses throughout their transit to the slaughtering facility and must include the following information:

• The shipper’s name and address and (if applicable) the owner’s name and address

• A description of the transporting vehicle, including the license plate number

• A description of each horse’s physical characteristics, including its sex, coloring, distinguishing marks, permanent brands, electronic means of identification, or other characteristics that can be used to accurately identify each horse

• The numbers of the USDA backtags that have been applied to the horses

• A statement of the animals’ fitness to travel, which must indicate that the horses are able to bear weight on all four limbs, are able to walk unassisted, are not blind in both eyes, are older than 6 months of age, and are not likely to give birth during the trip

• A description of anything unusual with regard to the physical condition of each horse, such as a wound or blindness in one eye, and any special handling needs

• The date, time, and place each horse was loaded on the conveyance

• A statement that each horse was provided access to food, water, and rest before transport

The owner/shipper certificate is an enforcement tool. By completing and signing this document, the owner or shipper of the horses is certifying in writing that he or she is aware of APHIS’ requirements concerning the transportation of the horses and is agreeing to abide by these requirements. This information also will be helpful if APHIS conducts a traceback investigation because of disease or theft of horses.

Owner/Shipper Certificate Fitness to Travel to a Slaughter Facility (Continuation Sheet), VS Form 10-13a

The continuation sheet provides space for 30 more horses to be listed and accompanies the VS Form 10-13. See description for the VS Form 10-13 above for information on this activity.

Recordkeeping, VS Form 10-13 and VS Form 10-13a

The individual or other entity who signs the owner/shipper certificate must maintain a copy of the owner/shipper certificate for 1 year after the date of signature. APHIS requires retention of the certificates because information on them may help trace animals and is useful in investigating alleged violations of the regulations.

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 business-related information that APHIS may require from drivers or their employers can be submitted electronically via e-mail. The owner/shipper certificate and continuation sheet must physically accompany the horses throughout their journey to the slaughtering facility and are, therefore, not candidates for electronic transmission. These forms are available on the APHIS Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/content/wp_c_index.shtml. Respondents can complete the forms electronically and print them.

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 collected in connection with this program is not available from any other source. APHIS is the only Federal agency responsible for monitoring the humane treatment of horses during transport to slaughter.

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

APHIS is keeping the information collection requirements to the absolute minimum needed to ensure that horses destined for slaughter are treated humanely during transit. APHIS estimates that 100 percent of the business respondents are small businesses.

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, APHIS’ ability to ensure that horses destined for slaughter are treated humanely would be significantly hampered.

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 2010, APHIS consulted with three people outside the agency to obtain their views on these information collection activities. They provided time estimates for completing the VS forms. APHIS averaged those times, included them on the APHIS Form 71, and explained the change in the supporting statement. If APHIS were to disclose the names and the locations of the three people, their cooperation in carrying out the program would decrease. Since compliance is a major issue with this program, disclosing this information would be harmful to the program and the trust APHIS has established with these people. APHIS is available to provide more information on the results of the consultations.

On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, pages 6624-6625, 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. During this time APHIS received 3 comments from the public. None of these comments dealt with information collection issues.

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 the owners and shippers of horses destined for slaughter and with the owners and operators of slaughter facilities.

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

Respondents are the owners and shippers of slaughter horses, drivers of the transport vehicles, and owners or operators of slaughtering facilities. APHIS estimates the total annualized cost to these respondents to be $70,411.15. APHIS arrived at this figure by multiplying the hours of estimated response time (2,603 hours) by the estimated average hourly wage of the above respondents ($27.05). Estimated hourly wages for the respondents were determined from the U.S. Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2008 Report – National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, May 2007. See http://www.bls.gov/oes/#tables.

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.

No annual cost burden is associated with capital and startup 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 $20,031.60.

(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.

Previously, APHIS required that a VS Form 10-13 be completed for each horse being transported to slaughter. Adding VS Form 10-13A, Continuation Sheet, resulted in a program burden reduction of -1600 hours. This change reduced the number of forms that needed to be submitted since more horses can be listed on the Continuation Sheet.

There is an adjustment of -73,400 responses to this collection. APHIS overestimated 400 responses per respondent for the completion of the VS Form 10-13 in the last submission. The actual number of responses should have be 16 per respondent.

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.

APHIS is not seeking approval to not display the expiration date on any forms.

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

No statistical methods are associated with the information collection activities used in this program.