[Federal Register: April 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 63)]
[Notices]
[Page 17295-17296]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap08-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0035]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Hawaiian and Territorial Quarantine Notices
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 prevent the interstate spread
of plant pests from Hawaii and U.S. territories.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June
2, 2008.
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- 2008-0035 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-2008-0035, 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-2008-0035.
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 regarding regulations
for the movement of fruits and vegetables from Hawaii and U.S.
territories, contact Mr. David Lamb, Import Specialist, Commodity
Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-4312. 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: Hawaiian and Territorial Quarantine Notices.
OMB Number: 0579-0198.
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.
Regulations governing the interstate movement of plants and plant
products from Hawaii and U.S. territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are contained in 7 CFR part 318,
``Hawaiian and Territorial Quarantine Notices.''
These regulations are necessary to prevent the interstate spread of
plant pests such as the Mediterranean fruit fly, the melon fly, the
Oriental fruit fly, green coffee scale, the bean pod borer, and other
plant pests to noninfested areas of the United States.
Administering these regulations requires APHIS to collect
information from a variety of individuals who are involved in growing,
packing, handling, and transporting plants and plant products. This
information serves as supporting documentation required for the
issuance of forms and documents
[[Page 17296]]
that authorize the movement of regulated articles and is vital to help
ensure that injurious plant pests are not spread interstate from Hawaii
and U.S. territories to noninfested areas of the United States.
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 0.0786158 hours per response.
Respondents: State plant regulatory officials, irradiation facility
personnel, and individuals involved in growing, packing, handling, and
transporting plants and plant products.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,129.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 11.108945.
Estimated annual number of responses: 12,542.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 986 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 27th day of March 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-6649 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]
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