[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 15168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7632]


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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. 67, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 15168]]



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. 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 June 3, 2002, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Jack R. 
Coulson, director, ARS Biological Control Documentation Center, 
National Program Staff, National Agricultural Library, ARS, USDA, 10301 
Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705-2330.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack R. Coulson, Director, ARS 
Biological Control Documentation Center, (301) 504-6350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA Biological Shipment Record--Beneficial Organisms: 
Foreign/Overseas Source (AD-941); Quarantine Facility (AD-942); and 
Non-Quarantine (AD-943).
    OMB Number: 0518-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2002.
    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 (pollinators and 
biological control agents for invasive species). 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. The AD-941 has 
been computerized and efforts are underway to replace the other 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: Universities, and state and local 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Non-Federal Respondents: 40.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: An average of 3 
(range 1-30).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10 hours.
    Copies of the 3 forms used in this information collection, and 
information on the computerized form can be obtained from Jack R. 
Coulson, ARS Biological Control Documentation Center, at (301) 504-
6350.
    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.

    Dated: March 7, 2002.
Judy St John,
Associate Deputy Administrator, Plant Sciences, National Program Staff, 
Agricultural Research Service, Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 02-7632 Filed 3-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P