[Federal Register: December 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 77593-77594]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de08-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0134]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Revision of Fruits and Vegetables Import Regulations
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 to allow importation of new
fruits and vegetables into the United States.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
February 17, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0134 to submit or view comments and
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0134, 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-2008-0134.
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 the importation of
new fruits and vegetables, contact Ms. Donna West, Senior Import
Specialist, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8758. For
copies of more detailed information on the information collection,
contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS* Information Collection
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Revision of Fruits and Vegetables Import Regulations.
OMB Number: 0579-0293.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C.
7701 et seq.), 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, which administers regulations to
implement the PPA.
The regulations in Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables (7 CFR 319.56-1
through 319.56-47) allow a number of fruits and vegetables to be
imported into the United States, under specified conditions, from
certain parts of the world. The regulations in Sec. Sec. 319.56-4 and
319.56-5 provide for a notice-based process for recognizing pest-free
areas and for approving the importation of certain new commodities
that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely
imported into the United States subject to designated phytosanitary
measures. Importation of new commodities under this process requires
the use of information collection activities, including the issuance of
permits and phytosanitary certificates.
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
[[Page 77594]]
affected agencies) concerning this information collection activity.
These comments will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for
the proper performance of our agency's functions, 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 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 0.9615384 hours per response.
Respondents: Importers, exporters, and foreign national plant
protection organizations.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 960.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.16666.
Estimated annual number of responses: 2,080.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,000 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 15th day of December 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-30214 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P