[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6888-6889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3418]


 ========================================================================
 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. 63, No. 28 / Wednesday, February 11, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 6888]]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 97-123-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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

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 in support of the gypsy moth program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 13, 1998 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of burden estimate, 
ways to minimize the burden (such as through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology), or any 
other aspect of this collection of information to: Docket No. 97-123-1, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River 
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please send an original and 
three copies, and state that your comments refer to Docket 97-123-1. 
Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 
14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, between 8 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons 
wishing to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-
2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For information regarding the gypsy moth 
identification worksheet, contact Ms. Coanne O'Hern, Operations 
Officer, Program Support Staff, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-8247. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information collection, contact Mr. Gregg Ramsey, 
Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-5682.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet.
    OMB Number: 0579-0104.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
responsible for preventing the introduction of foreign plant pests into 
the United States, preventing the spread of plant pests not widely 
distributed in the United States, and eradicating those plant pests 
when eradication is feasible.
    To this end, the Plant Protection and Quarantine Service (PPQ) of 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA, engages 
in detection surveys to monitor for the presence of, among other 
things, the European gypsy moth and the Asian gypsy moth.
    The European gypsy moth was introduced into the United States in 
the 1860's and has been damaging woodland areas in the Northeast for 
the last 100 years. The Asian gypsy moth, which is not established in 
this country, is considered to pose an even greater threat to trees and 
forested areas.
    Unlike the flightless European gypsy moth female adult, the Asian 
gypsy moth female adult is capable of strong directed flight between 
mating and egg deposition, significantly increasing its ability to 
spread over a much greater area and become widely established within a 
short period of time.
    In order to determine the presence and extent of a European gypsy 
moth or an Asian gypsy moth infestation, we set traps in high risk 
areas to collect specimens. Once an infestation is identified, control 
and eradication work (usually involving State cooperation) is initiated 
to eradicate the moths.
    APHIS personnel, with assistance from State agriculture personnel, 
check traps for the presence of gypsy moths. If a suspicious moth is 
found in the trap, it is sent to APHIS laboratories at the Otis Methods 
Development Center so that it can be correctly identified through DNA 
analysis. (Since the European gypsy moth and the Asian gypsy moth are 
strains of the same species, they cannot be visually distinguished from 
each other. DNA analysis is the only way to accurately identify these 
insects.)
    The individual submitting the moth for analysis (whether a PPQ 
employee or State employee) completes a gypsy moth identification 
worksheet (PPQ Form 305), which accompanies the insect to the 
laboratory. The worksheet enables both Federal and State regulatory 
officials to identify and track specific specimens through the DNA 
identification tests that we conduct.
    The information provided by the gypsy moth identification 
worksheets is vital to our ability to monitor, detect, and eradicate 
gypsy moth infestations.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the continued use of this information collection activity.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
We need this outside input to help us:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed 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 .0841 hours per response.
    Respondents: State cooperators.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 120.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.7833.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 214.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 18 hours. (Due to

[[Page 6889]]

rounding, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the average 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 February 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3418 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P