[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 65632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30836]



 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 244 / Wednesday, December 20, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 65632]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) intention to 
request an extension for a currently approved information collection in 
support of USDA's Biological Control Documentation Program dealing with 
documenting the importation and release of foreign biological control 
agents.

DATES: Comments of this notice must be received by February 23, 1996, 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Jack R. Coulson, Director, 
ARS Biological Control Documentation Center, Insect Biocontrol 
Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute, Beltsville Agricultural Research 
Center--West, ARS, USDA, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705-
2330, (301) 504-6350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA Biological Shipment Record--Beneficial Organisms: 
Foreign/Overseas Source (AD-941); Quarantine Facility (AD-942); and 
Non-Quarantine (AD-943).
    OMB Number: 0518-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the Biological Control Documentation 
Program is to record the importation (AD-941), release from quarantine 
(AD-942), and shipment and/or field release/recolonization (AD-942 and 
AD-943) of foreign/introduced beneficial organisms (biological control 
agents and pollinators). The information collected is entered into the 
USDA ``Releases of Beneficial Organisms in the United States and 
Territories'' (ROBO) database, established in 1984. It is a cooperative 
program among USDA and other federal agencies, state governmental 
agencies, and U.S. universities. The use of the forms and the 
information provided is voluntary. The program is for the benefit of 
biological control research and action agency personnel, taxonomists, 
federal and state regulatory agencies, agricultural administrators, and 
the general public. Efforts are underway to replace the paper forms 
with computerized information collection, and when completed, the forms 
would be used by those units for which computerized input is not 
possible.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average \1/12\ hour per response.
    Non-Federal Respondents: Non-profit institutions, universities, and 
state and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Non-Federal Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: An average of 3 
(range 1-60).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25 hours.
    Copies of the 3 forms used in this information collection can be 
obtained from Jack R. Coulson, ARS Biological Control Documentation 
Center, at (301) 504-6350.

COMMENTS: Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to:
    Jack R. Coulson, Director, ARS Biological Control Documentation 
Center, Insect Biocontrol Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute, ARS, 
USDA, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center--West, 10300 Baltimore 
Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350.
    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.

    Signed at Beltsville, MD, December 1, 1995.
Richard S. Soper,
Assistant Administrator, Office of International Research Programs, 
Agricultural Research Service, Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 95-30836 Filed 12-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-M