[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 11823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5952]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 10, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11823]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of Intent To Request an Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. No. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 
5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 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 on this notice must be received by May 17, 1999, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Jack R. Coulson, Director, 
ARS Biological Control Documentation Center, National Program Staff, 
National Agricultural Library, ARS, USDA, 10301 Baltimore Avenue, 
Beltsville, MD 20705-2330, (301) 504-6350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA Biological Shipment Record--Beneficial Organisms.
    OMB Number: 0518-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1999.
    Type of Request: To extend a 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, only 
those units for which computerized input is not possible would use the 
forms.
    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, National Program 
Staff, ARS, USDA, National Agricultural Library, 10301 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, February 26, 1999.
Judy St John,
Associate Deputy Administrator, Plant Sciences, National Program Staff, 
Agricultural Research Service Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 99-5952 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P