[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 16027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7110]



[[Page 16027]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-005-1]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an Expired Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reinstatement 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 a reinstatement of an expired information 
collection in support of regulations allowing papayas to be imported 
into the continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands from certain regions of Brazil and Costa Rica.

DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments that we receive by May 21, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies (an original and three copies) of 
your comment to: Docket No. 01-005-1, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. 01-005-1.
    You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our 
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on foreign quarantine 
regulations, contact Donna L. West, Import Specialist, Phytosanitary 
Issues Management Team, Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-6799. For 
copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0128.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2001.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of an expired information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
responsible for preventing plant pests from entering the United States 
and controlling and eradicating plant pests in the United States. The 
Plant Protection Act authorizes the Department to carry out this 
mission. The Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program of USDA's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for 
implementing the regulations that carry out the intent of this Act. The 
regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 through 
319.56-8) prohibit or restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables 
into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the 
introduction and dissemination of plant pests, including fruit flies, 
that are new to or not widely distributed within the United States.
    The regulations in Sec. 319.56-2w allow papayas to be imported into 
the continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands from certain regions of Brazil and Costa Rica under specified 
conditions. Allowing papayas to be imported necessitates the use of 
certain information collection activities, including completing 
phytosanitary inspection certificates, maintaining fruit fly monitoring 
records, and marking the cartons.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the 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 
information collection, 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 information collection 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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Growers of papayas in Brazil and Costa Rica and full-
time, salaried plant health officials of Brazil and Costa Rica.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 50.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 500.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 500 hours.
    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 16th day of March 2001.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-7110 Filed 3-21-01; 8:45 am]
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