BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0036]
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection;
National Veterinary Services Laboratories Request Forms
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment
request.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request a revision to and extension
of approval of an information collection associated with its efforts to safeguard the health of U.S.
livestock and poultry populations by the use of National Veterinary Services Laboratories
request forms.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before [INSERT DATE 60
DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
•

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2024-0036 in
the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of
documents.

•

Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-20240036, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at

regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located in room 1620 of the USDA South

Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room
hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is
there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on National Veterinary
Services Laboratories request forms, contact Ms. Lori Swiderski, Program Coordinator, National
Veterinary Services Laboratories, Diagnostics and Biologics, VS, APHIS, 1920 Dayton Ave.,
Ames, IA 50010; (515) 337-7405; email: lori.d.swiderski@usda.gov. For more information on
the information collection reporting process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS’ Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2533; joseph.moxey@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Veterinary Services Laboratories Request Forms.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0430.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection.
Abstract: The Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) provides the
Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to prohibit or restrict, through orders and regulations,
the importation or entry of any animal, article, or means of conveyance if the U.S. Department of
Agriculture determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction
or spread of any pest or disease of livestock within the United States. Disease prevention is the
most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population.
As an element of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) disease
prevention mission, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) safeguard U.S.
animal health by ensuring that timely and accurate laboratory support is provided through a
nationwide animal health diagnostic system. NVSL’s work necessitates the use of several
information collection activities including requests for reagents or supplies, NVSL contact
information updates, NVSL applications for laboratory training, and the ability to order NVSL
laboratory kits and instruments.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these
information collection activities, as described, for an additional 3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected
agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have
practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the collection of information,
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond,
through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of information is estimated to
average 0.25 hours per response.
Respondents: Domestic and foreign diagnostic laboratories (Federal, State, university, or
private), researchers (academia, private, government), and private veterinary practitioners.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 970.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 4.
Estimated annual number of responses: 4,079.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,013 hours. (Due to averaging, the total
annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by
the reporting burden per response.)
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB
approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of July, 2024.

Donna Lalli,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15568 Filed: 7/15/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/16/2024]