[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46080-46081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21600]
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Notices
Federal Register
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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
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 8, 2009 /
Notices
[[Page 46080]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0065]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced
Through Genetic Engineering
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 introduction of
organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
November 9, 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-2009-0065 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-2009-0065, 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-2009-0065.
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 introduction of organisms and products altered or produced
through genetic engineering, contact Mr. Steve Bennett, Branch Chief,
Regulatory Operations Programs, BRS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5672. 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: 7 CFR Part 340; Introduction of Organisms and Products
Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering.
OMB Number: 0579-0085.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.),
the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or restrict the
importation, entry, or movement in interstate commerce of any plant,
plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, article, or
means of conveyance, if the Secretary determines that the prohibition
or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction or the
dissemination of a plant pest into the United States.
Under that authority, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service has established regulations in 7
CFR part 340, ``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or
Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which
There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests.'' The regulations govern
the introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the
environment) of covered genetically engineered organisms and products
(``regulated articles).'' A permit must be obtained or a notification
acknowledged before a regulated article may be introduced.
The regulations set forth the permit application requirements and
the notification procedures for the importation, interstate movement,
or release into the environment of a regulated article and necessitate
certain information and recordkeeping requirements, including APHIS-
issued permits, applicants' field testing records, and the submission
of protocols to ensure compliance.
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 0.945142857 hours per response.
Respondents: U.S. importers and shippers of genetically engineered
organisms and products and agricultural companies that produce or test
genetically engineered organisms or products or that engage in product
research and development.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 121.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 28.925619834.
Estimated annual number of responses: 3,500.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,308 hours. (Due to
[[Page 46081]]
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 1st day of September 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-21600 Filed 9-4-09; 8:45 am]
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