[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30091-30092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12751]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0026]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Accreditation of Nongovernment Facilities
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 accrediting nongovernment facilities to
perform services related to the export of plants or plant products.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July
25, 2011.
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-2011-0026 to submit or view comments and
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0026, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
Available supporting documents and any comments we receive on this
docket may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (follow the link
above and click ``View Docket Folder'') or in our reading room, which
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 accreditation
program, contact Mr. Michael Ward, Senior Accreditation Program
Manager, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5227. 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: Accreditation of Nongovernment Facilities.
OMB Number: 0579-0130.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
among other things, provides export certification services to assure
other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving
from the United States are free of plant pests specified by the
receiving country. This activity is authorized by the Plant Protection
Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
The export certification regulations, which are contained in 7 CFR
part 353, describe the procedures for obtaining certification for
plants and plant products offered for export or reexport. Our
regulations do not require that we engage in export certification
activities; we perform this work as a service to exporters who are
shipping plants or plant products to countries that require
phytosanitary certification as a condition of entry.
After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary
inspection), an inspector will issue an internationally recognized
phytosanitary certificate, a phytosanitary certificate for reexport, or
an export certificate for processed plant products. Laboratory testing
of plant or plant product samples is an important component of the
certification process.
The regulations allow nongovernment facilities (such as commercial
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laboratories and private inspection services) to be accredited by APHIS
to perform specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspections
that could serve as the basis for issuing Federal phytosanitary
certificates, phytosanitary certificates for reexport, or export
certificates for processed plant products.
The accreditation process requires the use of several information
collection activities to ensure that nongovernment facilities applying
for accreditation possess the necessary qualifications.
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 3.4482758 hours per response.
Respondents: Operators of nongovernment facilities who wish to be
accredited to perform laboratory testing or phyosanitary inspection
services in connection with APHIS' export certification program and
certain employees of such nongovernment facilities.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 15.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.8.
Estimated annual number of responses: 87.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 300 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 18th day of May 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-12751 Filed 5-23-11; 8:45 am]
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