[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6033-6034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2947]


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 Notices
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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. 64, No. 25 / Monday, February 8, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 6033]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[S&T 99002]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to a 
currently approved information collection for Recordkeeping 
Requirements for Certified Applicators of Federally Restricted Use 
Pesticides (7 CFR Part 110).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 9, 1999, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Bonnie Poli, Chief, 
Pesticide Records Branch, Science and Technology, AMS, 8700 Centreville 
Road, Suite 202, Manassas, VA 20110, Telephone (703) 330-7826; Fax 
(703) 330-6110.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Recordkeeping Requirements for Certified Applicators of 
Federally Restricted Use Pesticides.
    OMB Number: 0581-0164.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The regulations, ``Recordkeeping Requirements for 
Certified Applicators of Federally Restricted Use Pesticides,'' require 
certified pesticide applicators to maintain records of federally 
restricted use pesticide applications for a period of two years. The 
regulations also provide for access to pesticide records or record 
information by Federal or State officials, or by licensed health care 
professionals when needed to treat an individual who may have been 
exposed to restricted use pesticides, and penalties for enforcement of 
the recordkeeping and access provisions.
    The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, (Pub. 
L. 101-624; 7 U.S.C. 136i-1), referred to as the FACT Act, directs and 
authorizes the Department to develop regulations which establish 
requirements for recordkeeping by all certified applicators of 
federally restricted use pesticides. A certified applicator is an 
individual who is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) or a State under cooperative agreement with EPA to use or 
supervise the use of restricted use pesticides.
    Section 1491 of the FACT Act directs and authorizes the Secretary 
of Agriculture to ensure compliance with regulations as the Secretary 
may prescribe, including levying penalties, for failure to comply with 
such regulations.
    Because this is a regulatory program with enforcement 
responsibility, USDA must ensure that certified applicators are 
maintaining restricted use pesticide application records for the two 
year period required by the FACT Act. To accomplish this, USDA must 
collect information through personal inspections of certified 
applicator's restricted use pesticide application records.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of the USDA (AMS, Science and Technology national 
staff, other designated Federal employees, and designated State 
supervisors and their staffs), which are designated access to the 
record information through section 1491, subsection (b) of the FACT 
Act. The information is used to administer the Federal Pesticide 
Recordkeeping Program. The Agency is the primary user of the 
information, and the secondary user is each designated State agency 
which has a cooperative agreement with AMS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated as follows:
    (a) Approximately 705,192 certified private applicators 
(recordkeepers) apply restricted use pesticides. It is estimated that 
on an average certified private applicators have a total annual burden 
of .35 hours per record keeper. Of the 705,192 certified private 
applicators, approximately 4,800 are selected annually for 
recordkeeping inspections. It is estimated that a private applicator 
that is subject to a pesticide record inspection has an annual burden 
of .85 hours, which contributes to a total annual burden of 4,080 
hours.
    (b) There are approximately 308,583 certified commercial 
applicators nationally who are required to provide copies of restricted 
use pesticide application records to their clients. It is estimated 
that certified commercial applicators have a total annual burden of 
1,520,697 hours.
    (c) It is estimated that State agency personnel who work through 
cooperative agreements with AMS, to inspect certified private 
applicator's records have a total annual burden of 11,020 hours.
    Respondents: Certified private and commercial applicators, State 
governments or employees, and Federal agencies or employees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,018,651--The total number of 
respondents includes approximately 308,583 certified commercial 
applicators, 705,192 certified private applicators (recordkeepers) and 
designated state agency personnel utilized to inspect certified private 
applicator's records.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The estimated number 
of responses per respondent is as follows:
    (a) It is estimated that certified private applicators 
(recordkeepers), record on an average 5 restricted use pesticide 
application records annually.
    (b) It is estimated that certified commercial applicators provide 
616 copies of restricted use pesticide records to their clients 
annually.
    (c) State agency personnel, who work under cooperative agreements 
with AMS to conduct restricted use pesticide record inspections have 
approximately 4,951 responses annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,782,614 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have

[[Page 6034]]

practical utility; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to Bonnie Poli, Chief, Pesticide Records Branch, Science and 
Technology, AMS, 8700 Centreville Road, Suite 202, Manassas, VA 20110. 
All comments received will be available for public inspection during 
regular business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: February 2, 1999.
William J. Franks, Jr.,
Deputy Administrator, Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 99-2947 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P