Notice2026-03430
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Emergency Management Response System
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
February 20, 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 Emergency Management Response System.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 34 (Friday, February 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8178-8179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03430]
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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 34 / Friday, February 20, 2026 /
Notices
[[Page 8178]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2026-0036]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Emergency Management Response System
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 Emergency Management Response System.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April
21, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Enter APHIS-2026-0036 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-2026-0036, 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 Emergency
Management Response System (EMRS), contact Dr. Brian Archer, EMRS
National Coordinator, National Preparedness and Incident Coordination,
Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. B, 2W93, Fort
Collins, CO 80526; (620) 755-1724. For more detailed information on the
information collection, contact Ms. Sheniqua Harris, APHIS' Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851- 2528; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3f2e3fbfae09de3e1f2f3c6c0d7d29dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e3a2b3abaab0cdb3b1a2a396908782cd848c95">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Emergency Management Response System (EMRS).
OMB Control Number: 0579-0071.
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
protect the health of U.S. livestock and poultry populations by
preventing the introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases
and pests of livestock and by eradicating such diseases from the United
States when feasible.
The Emergency Management Response System (EMRS), which is a web-
based system, helps APHIS manage and investigate potential incidents of
foreign animal diseases in the United States.
When a potential foreign animal disease incident is reported, APHIS
or State animal health officials dispatch a foreign animal disease
veterinary diagnostician to the premises of the reported incident to
conduct an investigation. The diagnostician obtains vital
epidemiological data by conducting field investigations, including
sample collection, and by interviewing the owner or manager of the
premises being investigated. These important data, submitted
electronically by the diagnostician into EMRS, include such items as
the purpose of the diagnostician's visit and suspected disease, type of
operation on the premises, the number and type of animals on the
premises, the number of sick or dead animals on the premises, the
results of physical examinations of affected animals and necropsy
examinations, vaccination information on the animals in the herd or
flock, biosecurity practices at the site, whether any animals were
recently moved out of the herd or flock, whether any new animals were
recently introduced into the herd or flock, the number and kinds of
test samples taken, and detailed geographic data concerning the
premises location. EMRS allows these epidemiological and diagnostic
data to be documented and transmitted more efficiently.
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 1 hour per response.
Respondents: Owners or operators of livestock and poultry
facilities and State animal health officials.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 158.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 156.
Estimated annual number of responses: 24,703.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 24,703 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.)
[[Page 8179]]
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 12th day of February 2026.
Kelly Moore,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03430 Filed 2-19-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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