[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58993-58994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23301]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0068]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Phytophthora Ramorum; Quarantine and 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 the regulations for the interstate movement
of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
November 25, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-013-0068-0001.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0068, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-
0068 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) 799-7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations for
the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of
Phytophthora ramorum, contact Dr. Prakash K. Hebbar, National Policy
Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231;
(301) 851-2228. 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: Phytophthora Ramorum; Quarantine and Regulations.
OMB Number: 0579-0310.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.)
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to restrict the importation,
entry, or interstate movement of plants, plant products, and other
articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United
States or their dissemination within the United States.
In accordance with the regulations in ``Subpart-Phytophthora
Ramorum'' (Sec. Sec. 301.92 through 301.92-12), the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) restricts the interstate movement of certain articles to prevent
the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the plant pathogen that causes the
disease commonly known as sudden oak death. The regulations contain
requirements for the interstate movement of regulated articles, such as
nursery stock and certain trees, from both quarantined and
nonquarantined areas and involve information collection activities,
including an USDA-APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Compliance Agreement (PPQ Form 519), issuance and cancellation of
certificates, maintaining records of shipments, and records of
fungicide applications.
Since the last approval of these collection activities, there have
been several changes to the P. ramorum program. APHIS no longer applies
the P. ramorum regulatory requirements to the interstate movement of
non-host nursery stock from certain nurseries located in the regulated
areas of California,
[[Page 58994]]
Oregon, and Washington. We have also adjusted the number of record
keepers of fungicide applications to more accurately reflect the number
of nurseries. In addition, we have reduced the number of record keepers
for incoming and outgoing shipments of plants to reflect the number of
host nurseries and farms that record shipments. All of these changes
have led to changes in our burden estimates. For instance, we have
increased the estimate of burden from 0.31 to 1.097 hours per response
and increased the estimated total annual burden on respondents from
2,263 to 4,076 hours. We have also decreased the estimated annual
number of responses and the estimated annual number of responses per
respondent from 7,227 to 3,717 and 5.06 to 2.26, respectively. Lastly,
we have increased the estimated annual number of respondents from 1,427
to 1,644,
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 1.097 hours per response.
Respondents: Nurseries in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,644.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.26.
Estimated annual number of responses: 3,717.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,076 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 19th day of September 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23301 Filed 9-24-13; 8:45 am]
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