SS.Skins etc.0806 v1

SUPPORTING STATEMENT - OMB NO. 0579-0307

IMPORTATION OF SWINE HIDES, BIRD TROPHIES, AND DEER HIDES

August 2006

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 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent, control, and eliminate domestic diseases as well as to take actions to prevent and to manage foreign animal diseases.

More specifically, 21 U.S.C. 111, 151-158 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to take such measures as he/she may deem proper to prevent the introduction or dissemination of contagious or communicable diseases 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 the ability of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to compete in the world market of animal and animal product trade.

Veterinary Services, a program within APHIS, is responsible for carrying out this disease prevention mission. This agency regulates the importation of animals and animal products into the United States to guard against the introduction of exotic animal diseases such as African swine fever (ASF), bovine babesiosis, and exotic Newcastle disease (END).

The regulations under which APHIS conducts these disease prevention activities are contained in Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter D, and Part 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.

These regulations place certain restrictions on the importation of hides and bird trophies to prevent an incursion of foreign animal diseases into the United States. APHIS published its final rule on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 to amend the current regulations governing the importation of certain animal products — specifically, untanned swine hides and skins from regions with ASF, bird trophies from regions with END, and untanned bovine, deer, and other ruminant hides and skins — into the United States. The final rule requires the collection of information regarding the region of origin or the processing of these products.

APHIS is asking OMB to approve, for 3 years, its use of this information collection activity in connection with APHIS’ efforts to ensure that bird trophies and certain animal hides pose a negligible risk of introducing African swine fever, bovine babesiosis, and exotic Newcastle disease 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.

Several of the new import requirements will necessitate the use of additional certification statements in connection with the importation, from certain regions, of commodities such as bird trophies and untanned hides. These certifications are used to minimize the risk of incursion of foreign animal diseases and include the following:

Certificate for Untanned Ruminant Hides from Mexico: In addition to meeting all other applicable APHIS provisions, untanned deer or other ruminant hides from Mexico may enter the United States only if accompanied by a certificate — issued by a full-time salaried veterinary officer of the Government of Mexico — stating that the hides were treated with an acaricide to kill ticks that could carry and spread bovine babesiosis.

Written Statement for Untanned Ruminant Hides from Mexico: In addition to meeting all other applicable APHIS provisions, untanned deer or ruminant hides from Mexico may enter the United States only if accompanied by a written statement from the owner attesting to the fact that the hides were frozen solid for 24 hours, which APHIS views as effective in eliminating ticks that could spread bovine babesiosis.

Certificate for Bird Trophies from END-Free Regions: In addition to meeting all other applicable APHIS provisions, bird trophies from regions that are free of END may enter the United States only if accompanied by a certificate of origin issued by a representative of the national government of the region of export. This certification statement will help to ensure that any bird trophy imported into the United States will have originated in and been exported from a region that is free of exotic Newcastle disease.

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 certification statements employed in this program must physically accompany the shipment to the United States, and must contain an original signature from the authorizing veterinarian to be valid. Since the number of respondents and annual responses is relatively small, there are no plans to automate the completion of the certificate.

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 the introduction of exotic animal diseases into 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 that APHIS is requiring on the written statement for untanned hides from Mexico may impact small producers. The time burden for this statement is approximately .2 hours and is not expected to pose a major burden. The health certificate must be recorded and certified by Federal animal health authorities in Mexico, and thus does not affect small entities.

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 hamper APHIS’ ability to ensure that these commodities pose a minimal risk of introducing foreign animal diseases into the United States. This would make a disease incursion event much more likely, with potentially devastating affects on the United States livestock industry.

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.

APHIS consulted with the following individuals concerning the information collection activities associated with this program:

John Meeham

Flora and Fauna Customhouse Brokerage

152-31 135th Ave, Jamaica, NY 11434

(718) 977-7700 x111

Lynette Lilley

ABX Logistics

15550 Vickery Drive, Suite 150

Houston, TX 77032

(281) 449-0892

Greg Crain

National Taxidermist Association

108 Branch Drive

Slidell, LA 70461

(866) 662-9054

The proposed rule, Docket Number APHIS-2006-0113, was published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 4, 2006 with a 60-day comment period. During this time, three comments were received by interested parties, but no comments were in regard to paperwork. The proposed rule is being adopted as a final rule, without change.

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 APHIS headquarters and field personnel, State veterinary authorities, and individuals who have expressed interest in the importation of untanned ruminant hides and skins into the United States and bird trophies from END-free regions.

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

Annualized cost to the three groups of respondents in the proposed rule:

Full-time salaried veterinary officers employed by the Government of Mexico: $125

Owners of untanned ruminant hides being exported from Mexico: $125

Representatives of National Governments of regions free of END: $750

APHIS arrived at this figure by multiplying the hours of estimated response time 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 $1509.85 (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.

There are no changes in the program.

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 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

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