[Federal Register: September 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 185)]
[Notices]
[Page 54417-54418]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25se07-24]
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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 54417]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0073]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Environmental Monitoring Form
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 environmental monitoring.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
November 26, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov,
select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency
drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select
APHIS-2007-0073 to submit or view public comments and to view
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips''
link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0073,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0073.
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: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on an information
collection associated with environmental monitoring, contact Dr. Robert
Baca, Team Leader, Environmental Compliance, Emergency and Domestic
Programs, PPQ, 4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301)
734-7592. 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: Environmental Monitoring Form.
OMB Number: 0579-0117.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture is to
protect the health and value of American animal and plant resources. In
carrying out this mission, APHIS ensures appropriate consideration of
the potential environmental effects of its programs.
In accordance with (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of
the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural
provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA regulations
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372), APHIS engages in environmental monitoring
for certain activities that we conduct to control or eradicate certain
pests and diseases. We monitor those activities that have the greatest
potential for harm to the human environment to ensure that the
mitigation measures developed to avoid that harm are enforced and
effective. In many cases, monitoring is required where APHIS programs
are conducted close to habitats of endangered and threatened species.
This monitoring is developed in coordination with the U.S. Department
of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, in compliance with the
Endangered Species Act (50 U.S.C. 17.11 and 17.12).
APHIS field personnel and State cooperators jointly use APHIS Form
2060, Environmental Monitoring Form, to collect information concerning
the effects of pesticide use in these sensitive areas. The goal of
environmental monitoring is to track the potential impact that APHIS
activities may have on the environment and to use this knowledge in
making any necessary adjustments in future program actions.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of APHIS Form 2060 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 0.5 hours per response.
Respondents: Growers, appliers of pesticides, State department of
agriculture personnel.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 150.
[[Page 54418]]
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
Estimated annual number of responses: 3,000.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,500 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 19th day of September 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-18884 Filed 9-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P