[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40160-40161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19210]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0052]
Notice of Revision and Request for Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Importation of Fruits and Vegetables
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision and 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 revise an information collection associated with
regulations to allow importation of certain fruits and vegetables into
the United States and to request extension of approval of the
information collection.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
October 13, 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-2009-0052 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-2009-0052, 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-2009-0052.
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
fruits and vegetables, contact Ms. Donna L. West, Senior Import
Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-5298. 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: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
OMB Number: 0579-0316.
Type of Request: Revision and 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 (APHIS). APHIS regulations authorized
by the PPA concerning the importation of fruits and vegetables are
contained in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (319.56-1 through
319.56-49).
Under these regulations, certain fruits and vegetables may be
imported into the United States under specific conditions to prevent
the introduction of plant pests into the United States. These
conditions involve the use of information collection activities,
including the issuance of permits and phytosanitary certificates,
trapping surveys, labeling of boxes, and recordkeeping.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3
years.
This information collection includes information collection
requirements currently approved by OMB control numbers 0579-0293,
``Revision of Fruits and Vegetables Import Regulations,'' and 0579-
0316, ``Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.'' After OMB approves and
combines the burden for both collections under a single collection
(0579-0316), the Department will retire number 0579-0293.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public
(as well as affected agencies) concerning this information collection
activity. These comments will help us:
[[Page 40161]]
(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 1.5103216 hours per response.
Respondents: Importers, exporters, and foreign national plant
protection organizations.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,959.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 27.748901.
Estimated annual number of responses: 82,109.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 124,011 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 5th day of August 2009.
William H. Clay,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-19210 Filed 8-10-09; 8:45 am]
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