[Federal Register: October 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 59880-59881]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc04-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 04-100-1]
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 introduction of
certain genetically engineered organisms and products.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
December 6, 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. 04-100-1,
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. 04-100-1.
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. 04-100-1'' 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 on the regulations
governing the introduction of genetically engineered organisms and
products, contact Mr. Steven M. Bennett, Management Analyst,
Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5672. For copies of more detailed
information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste
Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 7 CFR Part 340; Introduction of Organisms and Products
Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering.
OMB Number: 0579-0085.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), the
Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict the importation,
entry, or movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant product,
biological control organism, noxious weed, article, or means of
conveyance, if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or
restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction or the
dissemination of a plant pest into the United States.
Under that authority, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture
administers regulations in 7 CFR part 340, ``Introduction of Organisms
and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are
Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests.''
The regulations require that persons who wish to introduce
organisms or
[[Page 59881]]
products provide certain information through our permitting and
notification process. This information includes, among other things, a
complete description of the organism or product, the safeguards that
will be used in preventing escape, the destination of field test
locations, and field test results that describe any unusual or harmful
occurrences. We use this information to evaluate the plant pest risk
posed by the genetically engineered organisms and products.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities 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 0.9133 hours per response.
Respondents: U.S. importers and shippers of genetically engineered
organisms and products and agricultural companies that produce or test
genetically engineered organisms or products or that engage in product
research and development.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 375.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 7.8133.
Estimated annual number of responses: 2,930.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,676 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 30th day of September 2004.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E4-2523 Filed 10-5-04; 8:45 am]
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