[Federal Register: July 23, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 141)]
[Notices]
[Page 43137-43138]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jy10-38]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 43137]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0017]
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection (Specified Risk Materials)
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to
request revision of an approved information collection regarding
specified risk materials (SRMs) in cattle because the OMB approval will
expire on January 31, 2011, and to incorporate another approved
information collection, Specified Risk Materials--Transport.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before September
21, 2010.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 2-2175, George
Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2010-0017. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go
to the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For Additional Information: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington,
DC 20250, (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Specified Risk Materials.
OMB Number: 0583-0129.
Expiration Date of Approval: 1/31/2011 (SRM--Transport information
collection approval expires on 12/31/2010.)
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.). This statute provides that FSIS is
to protect the public by verifying that meat products are safe,
wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
FSIS is requesting revision of an approved information collection
addressing paperwork requirements regarding the regulations relating to
SRMs in cattle because the OMB approval will expire on January 31,
2011, and to combine it with another related approved information
collection, Specified Risk Materials--Transport.
FSIS requires that official establishments that slaughter cattle or
process carcasses or parts of cattle develop written procedures for the
removal, segregation, and disposition of SRMs. The Agency requires that
these establishments maintain daily records to document the
implementation and monitoring of their procedures for the removal,
segregation, and disposition of SRMs and any corrective actions that
they take to ensure that the procedures are effective (9 CFR 310.22).
FSIS also requires official slaughter establishments that transport
carcasses or parts of cattle that contain vertebral columns from cattle
30 months of age and older to another federally inspected establishment
for further processing to maintain records that verify that the
official establishment that received the carcasses or parts, removed
and properly disposed of the portions of the vertebral column
designated as SRMs (9 CFR 310.22(g)).
This monitoring and recordkeeping is necessary for establishments
to further ensure--and for FSIS to verify--that meat and meat products
distributed in commerce for use as human food do not contain SRMs.
FSIS has made the following estimates for the revised information
collection that combines the two approved information collections based
upon an information collection assessment:
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an
average of approximately .12 hours per response.
Respondents: Official establishments that slaughter cattle or
process parts of cattle.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 3,512.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 303.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 123,916 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065,
South Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202)720-0345.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's
functions, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
[[Page 43138]]
technology. Comments may be sent both to FSIS, at the addresses
provided above, and to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
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.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations/2010_Notices_Index/index.asp.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail
subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included.
The Update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and
the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader,
more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news
and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_&_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers
can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to
password protect their accounts.
Done at Washington, DC, on July 16, 2010.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-18094 Filed 7-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P