[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 49161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24055]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-070-1]


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 an information 
collection in support of regulations regarding the issuance of 
phytosanitary certificates for plants or plant products being shipped 
to foreign countries.

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. 01-070-1, 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. 01-070-1.
    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 regarding 
phytosanitary export certification, contact Mrs. Parul Patel, Senior 
Export Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1236, (301) 734-5491. 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: Phytosanitary Export Certification.
    OMB Number: 0579-0052.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
among other things, provides export certification services to assure 
other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving 
from the United States are free of plant pests specified by the 
receiving country.
    It should be noted that our regulations do not require that we 
engage in export certification activities. We perform this work as a 
service to exporters who are shipping plants or plant products to 
countries that require phytosanitary certification as a condition of 
entry.
    To request that we perform a phytosanitary inspection, an exporter 
must complete and submit an Application for Phytosanitary Inspection 
and Certification (PPQ Form 572).
    After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products 
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary 
inspection), an inspector (who may be an APHIS employee or a State or 
county plant regulatory official) will issue an internationally 
recognized phytosanitary certificate (PPQ Form 557), a phytosanitary 
certificate for reexport (PPQ Form 579), or an export certificate for 
processed plant products (PPQ Form 578).
    These forms are critical to our ability to certify plants and plant 
products for export. Without them, we would be unable to conduct an 
export certification program.
    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 
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 0.7095995 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. growers, shippers, and exporters; State and 
county plant health protection authorities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 14,375.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 52.869.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 759,992.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 539,290 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 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. 01-24055 Filed 9-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U