Notice2026-01223
Notice of Request for an Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the interstate movement of certain land tortoises.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2897-2898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01223]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2025-0967]
Notice of Request for an Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment
request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's
intention to request an extension of approval of an information
collection associated with the regulations for the interstate movement
of certain land tortoises.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March
24, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
[[Page 2898]]
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Enter APHIS-2025-0967 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab,
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
<bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2025-0967, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 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 the land tortoises
program, contact Dr. Michael Carter, Commodity Policy Advisor, Strategy
and Policy, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite
200, Dover, DE 19904; (301) 536-5508; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d10343e353c3831733c733e3c2f29382f1d282e393c733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d60444e454c4841034c034e4c5f59485f6d585e494c034a425b">[email protected]</span></a>. For
more information on the information collection reporting process,
contact Ms. Sheniqua Harris, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2528 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81c0d1c9c8d2afd1d3c0c1f4f2e5e0afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2263726a6b710c72706362575146430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0156.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to
prohibit or restrict the interstate movement of animals and animal
products to prevent the dissemination of animal diseases and pests
within the United States.
Currently, 9 CFR part 74 restricts the interstate movement of three
tortoise species: The leopard tortoise, the African spurred tortoise,
and the Bell's hingeback tortoise. APHIS implemented these restrictions
in 2001 to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic ticks known to
be vectors of heartwater disease, an acute, infectious disease of
cattle and other ruminants.
Leopard, African spurred, and hingeback tortoises can be moved
interstate for sale, health care, adoption, or export to another
country only if they are accompanied by a health certificate (also
known as a certificate of veterinary inspection). The health
certificate must be signed by a Federal or accredited veterinarian and
must state that the tortoises have been examined by that veterinarian
and found free of ticks within 30 days prior to movement. Animal owners
may use one of several different types of health certificates that are
issued at the State level. All documents request the same data. Any may
be used and submitted to APHIS.
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 reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average 1.5 hours per response.
Respondents: Accredited veterinarians, business owners,
individuals.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 50.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.
Estimated annual number of responses: 250.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 375 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 13th day of January 2026.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-01223 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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