Revised 2015 Ss-0071

SUPPORTING STATEMENT - OMB NO. 0579-0071

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE SYSTEM (EMRS)

“TERMS OF CLEARANCE: In accordance with the terms of 5 CFR 1320, this information collection is approved. Although this collection is electronic, the Agency is reminded that the OMB Control Number and expiration date for the collection must be displayed on the website. If the Control Number and expiration date are not clearly visible in the screenshots upon resubmission, the ICR will be disapproved.”

APHIS has added the OMB Control Number and Expiration Date to the screenshots.

A. Justification: June 2015

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.

The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 2002 is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal health. The law gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or poultry. The Secretary may also prohibit or restrict import or export of any animal or related material if necessary to prevent the spread of any livestock or poultry pest or disease.

The AHPA is contained in Title X, Subtitle E, Sections 10401-18 of P.L. 107-171, May 13, 2002, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

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

In connection with the United States Department of Agriculture’s mission to prevent animal disease, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) unit investigates suspected foreign animal disease (FAD) occurrences. These investigations help APHIS protect the health of the United States livestock and poultry populations.

APHIS’ authority to investigate suspected occurrences of FADs in livestock or poultry is delineated in Public Law 87-518, dated July 2, 1962; and 21 U.S.C. 111, 112, 113, 114, 114a, 120, and 134a. The regulations implementing these laws are found in part 53 of Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations.

Through its FAD Surveillance Program, the VS Emergency Management staff compiles essential epidemiological and diagnostic data used to define FADs and their risk factors. The data is compiled through the VS Emergency Management Response System (EMRS), a Web-based database for reporting investigations of suspected FAD occurrences. EMRS is the central data repository for new and potential FAD occurrences within the United States.

APHIS is asking OMB to approve, for an additional 3 years, information collection activities involved in using EMRS.

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.

APHIS uses the following information collection activities to effectively prevent FAD occurrences and/or reduce their spread, and protect the health of the United States.

EMRS

When a potential FAD incident is reported, APHIS or State animal health authorities send a foreign animal disease diagnostician to the site to conduct an investigation. The Federal or State diagnostician obtains vital epidemiological data by conducting field investigations and by interviewing the owner or manager of the premises being investigated. Information recorded in EMRS includes such items as:

• The purpose of the diagnostician's visit to the site.

• The name and address of the site owner or manager.

• The type of operation being investigated.

• The number and type of animals on the premises.

• Whether any animals have been moved to or from the premises and when this movement occurred.

• The number of sick or dead animals.

• The results of physical examinations of the affected animals.

• The results of postmortem examinations.

• The number and kinds of samples taken.

• The name of the suspected disease.

The data is completed and entered into EMRS by State or Federal diagnosticians, not by owners or managers of premises being investigated. Owners and/or managers verbally provide the data to the State and/or Federal diagnosticians – thus the two, separate burden items to account for the two different respondents and their different activities/involvement.

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.

This data has been collected from State and Federal diagnosticians electronically since 2004. This allows epidemiological and diagnostic information to be collected and transmitted easier and faster and reduces public burden. EMRS can be accessed only by State Departments of Agriculture and APHIS field veterinarians. Information collected from owners and managers of affected premises is obtained verbally while investigations are conducted.

https://emrs2.aphis.usda.gov/

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 detecting and eradicating FADs.

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

The information collects is the absolute minimum needed to conduct meaningful surveillance for FADs. APHIS estimates 10% of the respondents to be considered small entities/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 this information is not collected, APHIS will have no way to detect and monitor FAD outbreaks in the United States, thus eliminating the possibility of early detection and eradication. FAD outbreaks economically damage not only United States livestock or poultry industries, but also United States consumers and world trade.

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.

• requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

No special circumstances exist that would require this information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the general information collection guidelines 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.

APHIS has engaged in productive consultations with the following individuals concerning the information collection activities associated with this information collection:

Dr. David Schmitt

Iowa Department of Agriculture

State Veterinarian

502 E 9^th St

Des Moines, IA 50319

515-281-8601

[email protected]

Tom Ray, DVM, MPH

Director, Animal Health Programs-Livestock

North Carolina Department of Agriculture &Consumer Services, Veterinary Division

2 W Edenton St

1030 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC  27699-1030

[email protected]

Dr. Dee Ellis

Texas Animal Health Commission

State Veterinarian/ Executive Director

2105 Kramer Lane
Austin, Texas 78758

[email protected]

On Tuesday, December 30, 2014, pages 78384-78385, 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 that time, APHIS received 1 comment. The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) supports the continuation of this information collection for an additional 3 years and agrees with our burden estimates (hours per response in particular). In addition, TAHC can see some additional and different uses for the system which APHIS will take into consideration; however, this system is designed and intended for a multitude of different FAD occurrences and scenarios, so flexible is a main requirement.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration 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. Any and all information obtained in this collection shall not be disclosed except in accordance with 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 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 asks 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 APHIS Headquarters and field personnel, State veterinary authorities, and owners and operators of livestock and poultry operations in the United States.

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

Respondents are owners or operators of livestock and poultry facilities and State animal health officials. APHIS estimates the total annualized cost to these respondents to be $155,337. APHIS arrived at this figure by multiplying the total burden hours (3,516) by the estimated average hourly wage of the above respondents ($44.18).

Owners or operators of livestock facilities: $35.20 [11-9013 Farm, Ranch, and Other Agricultural Managers]

State animal health authorities: $53.15 [11-0000 Management Occupations]

The average hourly rate is derived from the United States Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2014 Report – National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States. See http://www.bls.gov/oes/2014/may/oes_nat.htm.]

13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers 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 $134,817. (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.

ICR Summary of Burden:

	Requested	Program Change Due to New Statute	Program Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Agency Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA	Previously Approved
Annual Number of Responses	3,516	0	0	1,632	0	1,884
Annual Time Burden (Hr)	3,516	0	0	1,632	0	1,884
Annual Cost Burden ($)	0	0	0	0	0	0

There is an increase in the number of respondents from 471 to 831 and an increase in the annual responses and total burden hours from 1,884 to 3,516. These adjustments have been caused by periodic fluctuations in disease occurrence and reporting, but are mostly caused by APHIS’ response to the current highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak.

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 will display the expiration date for OMB approval on the EMRS system main page.

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

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

10