[Federal Register: September 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 185)]
[Notices]
[Page 54419]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25se07-26]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0088]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Karnal Bunt; Importation of Wheat and Related Articles
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 for the importation of wheat and
related articles from regions affected with Karnal bunt.
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-2007-0088 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-2007-0088,
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-2007-0088.
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 regulations for the
importation of wheat and related articles from regions affected with
Karnal bunt, contact Mr. Hesham A. Abuelnaga, Import Specialist,
Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-0627. 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: Karnal Bunt; Importation of Wheat and Related Articles.
OMB Number: 0579-0240.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701
et seq.) (PPA), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict
the importation, entry, exportation, or movement in interstate commerce
of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed,
means of conveyance, or other article if the Secretary determines that
the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent a plant pest or
noxious weed from being introduced into or disseminated within the
United States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which administers regulations
to implement the PPA.
To prevent the introduction and spread of various wheat diseases,
including Karnal bunt (a fungal disease), APHIS' regulations in
Subpart-Wheat Diseases (7 CFR 319.59-1 through 319.59-4) prohibit the
importation of wheat seed, straw, and other products into the United
States from regions affected with Karnal bunt.
The regulations require that certain regulated articles imported
from Karnal bunt-free areas within regions regulated for Karnal bunt be
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that must be completed by an
official of the national plant protection organization of the region of
origin. The certificate must include a declaration stating that the
regulated articles originated in areas where Karnal bunt is not known
to occur, as attested to either by survey results or by testing for
bunted kernels or spores.
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 this 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
information collection, 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 information collection 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 1.2 hours per response.
Respondents: Foreign national plant protection organization
officials.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 500.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated annual number of responses: 504.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 600 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. E7-18898 Filed 9-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P