[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8778-8779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4517]


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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. 67, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8778]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 02-007-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an 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 for collecting user fees, ensuring remittances in a timely 
manner, and determining proper credit for payment of international air 
passenger, aircraft clearance, commercial truck, commercial railroad 
car, commercial vessel, phytosanitary certificate, import/export, and 
veterinary diagnostic user fees.

DATES: We will consider all comments we receive that are postmarked, 
delivered, or e-mailed by April 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery 
or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket 
No. 02-007-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 02-007-1. If you use e-mail, 
address your comment to [email protected]. Your comment must 
be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. 
Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 
02-007-1'' on the subject line.
    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 user fees, contact 
Ms. Donna J. Ford, User Fees Section Head, FSSB, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 54, Riverdale, MD 20737-1232, (301) 734-5752. 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: User Fee Regulations.
    OMB Number: 0579-0094.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is necessary for the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to effectively collect 
fees, ensure remittances in a timely manner, and determine proper 
credit for payment of international air passenger, aircraft clearance, 
commercial truck, commercial railroad car, commercial vessel, 
phytosanitary certificate, import/export, and veterinary diagnostic 
user fees. APHIS does not receive an appropriation to fund these 
activities; instead, user fees are calculated and assessed to ensure 
full cost recovery of each user fee program. If the information was not 
collected, the Agency would not be able to perform the services since 
the fees collected are necessary to fund the work.
    Requesters of our services usually are repeat customers, and, in 
many cases, request that we bill them for our services. Also, the 1996 
Debt Collection Improvement Act requires that agencies collect tax 
identification numbers (TINs) from all persons doing business with the 
Government for purposes of collecting delinquent debts. Without a TIN, 
service cannot be provided on a credit basis.
    We are responsible for ensuring that the fees collected are correct 
and that they are remitted in full and in a timely manner. To ensure 
this, the party (ticketing agents for transportation companies) 
responsible for collecting and remitting fees must allow APHIS 
personnel to verify the accuracy of the fees collected and remitted, 
and otherwise determine compliance with the statute and regulations. We 
also require that whoever is responsible for making fee payments advise 
us of the name, address, and telephone number of a responsible officer 
who is authorized to verify fee calculations, collections, and 
remittances.
    The requests for our services are in writing, by telephone, or in 
person. The information contained in each request identifies the 
specific service requested and the time in which the requester wishes 
the service to be performed. This information is necessary in order for 
the animal import centers and port offices to schedule the work and to 
calculate the fees due.
    We have reviewed the paperwork requirements of the user fee 
programs and have made every possible effort to streamline our 
processes and minimize the impact on the public. Whenever possible, we 
use existing billing/collection methods to minimize the cost to the 
Agency. If the work is not performed, individuals and businesses will 
not be able to import animals, fruits, vegetables, plants, and animal 
and plant products.
    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 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;

[[Page 8779]]

    (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 0.0341739 hours per response.
    Respondents: Arriving international passengers, representatives of 
international means of conveyances, and importers/exporters who wish to 
import or export animals and animal products.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 88,453.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.5274665.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 223,562.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 7,640 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 21st day of February 2002.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-4517 Filed 2-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P