0232 Ss 20190501

SUPPORTING STATEMENT OMB NO. 0579-0232
STANDARDS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED QUARANTINE
FACILITIES FOR RUMINANTS
April 2019
NOTE: This is a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection with changes.
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.
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 United States' ability to compete in the world market of animal and animal product
trade.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides standards for the approval,
operation, and oversight of privately owned quarantine facilities for imported ruminants prior to
their release into the United States to protect against the introduction of foreign animal diseases.
These standards trigger a number of information collection activities when applicants apply for
approval to establish and operate privately owned quarantine facilities. These information collection
activities include the writing of application letters, the maintenance of daily logs, and the writing of
variance requests.
APHIS is asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve, for 3 years, its use of
this information collection activity, associated with its efforts to maintain a system whereby private
businesses can operate (with APHIS oversight) their own facilities for the quarantine of imported
ruminants.

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 activities associated with its efforts to maintain a system
whereby private business can operate (with APHIS oversight) their own facilities for the quarantine
of imported ruminants.
Application Letter (Business and State) - 9 CFR 93.412(d)(1)(i)
Anyone desiring to obtain APHIS approval to establish and operate a privately owned medium or
minimum security quarantine facility for ruminants must submit, in writing, a letter that contains the
full name and mailing address of the applicant, the location and street address of the proposed
facility, a description of the financial resources for construction, operation, and maintenance of the
facility, the anticipated origin of the ruminants to be quarantined, and the expected size and
frequency of shipments. In addition to the letter, the applicant must provide APHIS with blueprints
of the proposed facility, all approved State and local permits for construction and operation of such
a facility, and a contingency plan for the destruction and disposal of all possible ruminants capable
of being held in the facility. This information can be submitted to APHIS via fax, postal mail, or
email.
APHIS uses this information to determine whether an applicant is capable of designing, equipping,
operating, and maintaining a quarantine facility that meets APHIS standards for biological security.
Requests for approval must be submitted at least 120 days prior to the date of application for local
business permits. Based on this information, APHIS will determine if permission will be granted to
establish and operate a private quarantine facility for ruminants.
Cooperative Service Agreement (Business) - 9 CFR 93.412(d)(2)
The applicant agrees to establish, operate, and maintain the private quarantine facility in accordance
with APHIS standards and requirements. The compliance agreement further stipulates that the
operator is responsible for the cost of building the facility, as well as any costs associated with its
maintenance and operation.
Daily Log and Recordkeeping (Business) - 9 CFR 93.412(d)(2)(vi)(A)&(B)
For purposes of security, facility operators must maintain a daily log to record the entry and exit of
all persons entering and leaving the facility while quarantine is in progress. These logs must be
made available to an APHIS representative upon request, and must be kept for 2 years following the
release of the ruminants from quarantine.
Request for Variance (Business) - 9 CFR 93.412(d)(7)
Facility operators desiring a variance from APHIS regulatory standards must submit their variance
request, in writing, at least 30 days in advance of the arrival of ruminants at the quarantine facility.
APHIS will grant a variance to existing facility requirements relating to location, construction,
design, sanitation, security, operating procedures, recordkeeping, or other provisions if it determines
that there is no detrimental effect on the health of the ruminants or to the overall biological security
of the quarantine operation.

Operating Procedures and Recordkeeping (Business) - 9 CFR 93.412(d)(4)
The operator must keep a manual of standard operating procedures used at the facility, and make
this available to APHIS as requested. The procedures must be followed at a privately owned
minimum or medium security quarantine facility at all times. This must include procedures for
personnel, authorized access, sanitary practices for the facility, and handling of ruminants in
quarantine.
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.
All documents associated with this information collection can be submitted to APHIS electronically
by email. APHIS will accept scanned documents if the originals aren’t available electronically. The
additional information regarding the application letter will be available through APHIS' for National
Import/Export Services at 301-851-3300 or by fax at 301-734-6402. Guidelines for submitting an
application are available on the APHIS homepage at www.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 preventing foreign animal diseases from entering 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 collected is the absolute minimum needed to ensure that privately owned
quarantine facilities for ruminants are being operated according to APHIS standards for biosecurity.
APHIS estimated that there are no small entities involved with this information collection.
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 would be forced to
discontinue its program of allowing the operation of privately owned quarantine facilities for
ruminants; a development that would hamper U.S. animal import activities.

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;
Daily Log - For purposes of security, facility operators must maintain a daily log to record the entry
and exit of all persons entering and leaving the facility while quarantine is in progress.
• 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.
There are no other special circumstances associated with this collection of information. 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 record keeping,
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 the following individuals by email and phone to discuss the information APHIS
collects to oversee privately owned quarantine facilities for imported ruminants. We discussed with
them how we and they obtain the necessary data and how frequently; how much data is available;
the convenience and clarity of reporting formats and other collection instruments; and the clarity of,
and necessity for, any recordkeeping requirements. The respondents stated via email or phone that
they had no concerns with any of these items and had no further recommendations.

Dr. Andrea Mikolon, Division of Animal Health and Food Safety Services
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N Street, A-114
Sacramento, CA 95814
909-730-3876
Robert Moore, Delaware Department of Agriculture
2320 South DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
302-698-4566
Dr. Diane Kitchen, Division of Animal Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
407 South Calhoun Street, Room 335, Mayo Building
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
850-410-0900
On Wednesday, February 6, 2019, pages 2153-2154, Vol. 84, No. 25, APHIS published in the
Federal Register, a 60-day notice seeking public comments on its plans to request a reinstatement of
this collection of information. During that time one comment was received from a concerned citizen
about her perception of the general maltreatment of animals. It had no relevance to the purpose of
this information collection.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment of 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. 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 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 83-1.
See APHIS Form 71. Public burden estimates were developed from discussions with the
owners/operators of the privately owned quarantine facilities for ruminants.
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 these respondents to be $3,537.28. APHIS arrived at
this figure by multiplying the total burden hours (64 hours) by the estimated average hourly wage of
the above respondents ($37.75 + 17.52 = 55.27).
64 X $55.27 = $3,537.28
APHIS determined the hourly rate derived from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics May 2018 – National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States. See
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm.
Benefits = wages X 46.4% (37.75 X 0.464 = $17.52)
13. Provide estimates 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 estimate should be split in to two components: (a) a total capital and
startup cost component annualized over its excepted useful life; and (b) a total operation and
maintenance and purchase of services component.
There is zero annual cost burden 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 $596.55. (See APHIS Form 79.)

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustment reported in Items 12 or 14 of
the OMB Form 83-1.
Program
Program Change Change Due to
Requested Change Due to Due to Agency
Adjustment in
New Statute
Discretion
Agency Estimate

Change Due to
Potential
Violation of the
PRA

Previously
Approved

Annual
Number of
Responses

60

0

0

0

60

0

Annual Time
Burden (Hr)

64

0

0

0

64

0

Annual Cost
Burden ($)

0

0

0

0

0

0

This is a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection with changes. There is a
program change increase of + 5 respondents and +60 responses, responses resulting in an increase
of +64 burden hours. APHIS is accounting this a potential violation.
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.
Not applicable, there are no forms associated with this information collection.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the "Certification for
Paper work Reduction Act."
APHIS certifies compliance with all provisions of the Act.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
There are no statistical methods associated with the information collection activities used in this
program.