[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 66525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32128]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 231 / Wednesday, December 2, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 66525]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

agency: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

action: Notice and request for comments.

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summary: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) intention to 
request an extension for a currently approved information collection 
procedure. This information is contained in a petition which may be 
filed with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting emergency 
relief from increased, injurious imports of certain perishable products 
entering the United States duty-free from beneficiary countries under 
the Andean Trade Preference Act.

dates: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February 
1, 1999 to be assured consideration.

addresses: Mail or deliver comments to Stephen C. Hammond, Director, 
Import Policies and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, 
Stop 1021, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-1021, 
(202) 720-2916.

for further information contact: Diana Wanamaker, Stop 1021, 1400 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-1021, (202) 720-1330.

supplementary information:
    Title: Emergency Relief from Duty-Free Imports of Perishable 
Products from Andean Countries.
    OMB Number: 0551-0033.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension for a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Andean Trade Preference Act (Pub. L. 102-182, 105 
Stat. 1236 (19 U.S.C. 3201 et. seq.) (the ``Act''), authorizes the 
President to proclaim duty-free treatment for imports from Bolivia, 
Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, except for certain specifically excluded 
products. Section 204(e) of the Act provides, in part, that if a 
petition is filed with the United States International Trade Commission 
pursuant to the provisions of section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 2251), regarding a perishable product and alleging 
injury from imports from beneficiary countries, then a petition may 
also be filed with Secretary of Agriculture requesting that emergency 
relief be granted by the President. Under 7 CFR 1540.43, an entity 
seeking emergency relief may submit a request to the administrator, 
FAS, providing appropriate information and data to permit the Secretary 
of Agriculture to make a determination whether to recommend to the 
President to take emergency action. The request should contain a 
description of the imported perishable product concerned and the 
country of origin; data showing that increased imports of such 
perishable product are the substantial cause of serious injury, or the 
threat of serious injury, to the domestic industry producing a 
perishable product like or directly competitive with the imported 
product; and provide a statement indicating why emergency action would 
be warranted. The information collected would be used by FAS to prepare 
an assessment that would assist the Secretary in making his 
determination.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated at $1,106.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions, businesses, or farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 46 hours. Copies of 
the information collection can be obtained from Kimberly Chisley, the 
Agency Collection Coordinator, at (202) 720-2568.

REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS: The public is invited to submit comments and 
suggestions to the above address regarding the accuracy of the burden 
estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any 
other aspect of this collection of information. Comments on issues 
covered by the Paperwork Reduction Act are most useful to OMB if 
received within 30 days of publication of the Notice and Request for 
Comments, but must be submitted no later than 60 days from the date of 
publication to be assured consideration. All responses to this notice 
will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will also be a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on November 27, 1998.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32128 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
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