[Federal Register: August 17, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 158)]
[Notices]
[Page 51057-51058]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17au04-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 04-073-1]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection
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 regulations governing the importation of
tomatoes from Spain, Chile, France, Morocco, and Western Sahara to
prevent the introduction of foreign plant pests into the United States.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
October 18, 2004.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or
view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public
docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered
EDOCKET, click on the ``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate this
document.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-073-1,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. 04-073-1.
E-mail: Address your comment to
regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comment must be contained in the body
of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name
and address in your message and ``Docket No. 04-073-1'' on the subject
line.
Agency Web Site: Go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/cominst.html
for a form you can use to submit an e-mail comment through
the APHIS Web site.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 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) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the
Federal Register and related information, including the names of groups
and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding foreign
quarantine regulations, contact, Hesham Abuelnaga, Import Specialist,
Phytosanitary Issues Management, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5334. For copies of more detailed
information on the information
[[Page 51058]]
collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection
Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Importation of Tomatoes from Spain, Chile, France, Morocco,
and Western Sahara.
OMB Number: 0579-0131.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
responsible for, among other things, preventing the introduction and
dissemination of plant pests into or through the United States and
eradicating plant pests in the United States. The Plant Protection Act
authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. The Plant
Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program of USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service is responsible for implementing the
regulations that carry out the intent of this Act.
The regulations in ``Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56
through 319.56-8) prohibit or restrict the importation of fruits and
vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to
prevent the introduction of plant pests, including fruit flies, that
are new to or not widely distributed within the United States.
The regulations in 319.56-2dd allow tomatoes from Spain, Chile,
France, Morocco, and Western Sahara to be imported into the United
States subject to certain conditions. Allowing tomatoes to be imported
necessitates the use of certain information collection activities,
including completing phytosanitary inspection certificates and
maintaining records regarding trap placement and Mediterranean fruit
fly (Medfly) captures. The information we collect serves as the
supporting documentation needed to confirm that the tomatoes meet the
conditions set forth in the regulations.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of this information collection activity 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 0.6960 hours per response.
Respondents: Importers, foreign officials, shippers.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 34.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 72.
Estimated annual number of responses: 2448.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1704 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 10th day of August 2004.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-18787 Filed 8-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P