[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49160-49161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24054]


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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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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 49160]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-066-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
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 a currently approved 
information collection in support of its imported fire ant regulations.

DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments that we receive by November 26, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and 
three copies) to: Docket No. 01-066-1, 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. 01-066-1.
    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 the imported fire 
ant regulations, contact Mr. Charles L. Brown, Staff Officer, Invasive 
Species and Pest Management, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-4838. 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: Imported Fire Ant.
    OMB Number: 0579-0102.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing the 
interstate spread of injurious plant pests, such as the imported fire 
ant, from infested areas of the United States to noninfested areas. 
Implementing this responsibility requires the use of domestic 
quarantines to restrict the interstate movement of regulated articles 
that could carry the plant pest. The Plant Protection Act authorizes 
the Department to carry out this mission.
    Nursery owners who elect to enter our Imported Fire Ant-Free 
Nursery Program visually inspect their premises for the presence of 
imported fire ants, record the results in a notebook or log sheet, and 
record any treatments they perform if fire ants are discovered.
    State plant protection officials collect this information by 
interviewing the nursery owner, reviewing the owner's inspection and 
treatment records, and inspecting the nursery site. The information 
obtained is used for issuing the various certificates, permits, and 
other documents that enable the nursery owner to move regulated items 
(such as potted nursery plants, sod, or other products) across State 
lines to markets outside the area under quarantine for imported fire 
ant.
    Without this information collection, we would be unable to collect 
the information we need to effectively implement our imported fire ant 
quarantine. Persons who grow, handle, or move regulated nursery 
articles interstate may also enter into a compliance agreement with 
APHIS. Compliance agreement candidates must meet all applicable State 
training and certification standards regarding pesticide application. 
Any person who enters into a compliance agreement with APHIS must agree 
to comply with all provisions of the Imported Fire Ant Quarantine and 
Regulations in 7 CFR 301.81 through 301.81-10.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity for an additional 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 proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the Agency functions, 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 0.42371 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. nursery owners, shippers, and State and county 
plant health protection authorities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 4,024.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.93836.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 11,824.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 5,010 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request

[[Page 49161]]

for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of September 2001.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-24054 Filed 9-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U