[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11405-11406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5989]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 98-011-1]


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.

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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 in support of plant pest, noxious weed, and garbage 
regulations.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 8, 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. 98-011-1, 
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 No. 98-011-
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 plant pest and 
noxious weed regulations, contact Polly Lehtonen, Botanist, Biological 
Assessments & Taxonomic Support, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737, (301) 734-4394. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information collection, contact Ms. Celeste Sickles, 
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Federal Plant Pest and Noxious Weed Regulations.
    OMB Number: 0579-0054.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.

[[Page 11406]]

    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
United States Department of Agriculture, is responsible for preventing 
the introduction and dissemination of plant pests, noxious weeds, and 
communicable livestock and poultry diseases. APHIS is also responsible 
for eradicating plant pests, noxious weeds, and livestock and poultry 
diseases when eradication is feasible.
    The introduction or establishment of new plant pests, noxious 
weeds, and communicable diseases of livestock and poultry in the United 
States could cause multimillion dollar losses to American agriculture.
    To prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests, 
noxious weeds, and communicable diseases of livestock and poultry, 
APHIS engages in a number of information collection activities designed 
to allow us to determine whether shipments of regulated articles (such 
as certain plants and soil) that may be imported into the United States 
or moved interstate present a risk of introducing plant pests, noxious 
weeds, or communicable diseases of livestock and poultry.
    Our primary means of obtaining this vital information is requiring 
individuals to apply to us for a permit to import regulated articles or 
to move these articles interstate. The permit application contains such 
information as the nature and amount of items to be imported or moved 
interstate, the country or locality of origin and the intended 
destination, and the intended port of entry in the United States.
    This data enables us to evaluate the risks associated with the 
proposed importation or interstate movement of regulated articles, and 
also enables us to develop risk-mitigating conditions, if necessary, 
for the proposed importation or movement.
    We also require owners or operators of certain garbage-handling 
facilities to apply to us for a permit so that they can be approved to 
process regulated garbage in such a way that it no longer poses a 
threat of disseminating plant pests or livestock and poultry diseases 
within the United States.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
the continued use of these information collection activities.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection 
activity. 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 .80966 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers and shippers of plant pests, noxious weeds, 
and other regulated articles; State plant health authorities; owners or 
operators of regulated garbage-handling facilities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 40,912.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.1361.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 46,480.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 37,633 hours. (Due to 
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 3rd day of March 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5989 Filed 3-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P