[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 26281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12166]



[[Page 26281]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-042-1]


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 in support of regulations for the use of irradiation as a 
phytosanitary treatment for fruits and vegetables imported into the 
United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
14, 2003.

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. 03-042-1, 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. 03-042-1. 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. 
03-042-1'' 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 regarding regulations 
for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for fruits and 
vegetables imported into the United States, contact Dr. Inder P. Gadh, 
Import Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5210. 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: Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment for Fresh Fruits and 
Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0155.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772) authorizes 
the Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the importation of plants, 
plant products, and other articles into the United States to prevent 
the introduction of plant pests and noxious weeds.
    The regulations in 7 CFR part 319 include specific requirements for 
the importation of fruits and vegetables. For example, fruits and 
vegetables from certain regions of the world must be treated for insect 
pests in order to be eligible for entry into the United States.
    The regulations in 7 CFR part 305 provide for the use of 
irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for certain fruits and 
vegetables imported into the United States. The irradiation treatment 
provides protection against 11 species of fruit flies and the mango 
seed weevil. It may be used as an alternative to other approved 
treatments for these pests in fruits and vegetables, such as 
fumigation, cold treatment, heat treatment, and other techniques.
    This collection requires the submission of a compliance agreement, 
24-hour notification, labeling requirements, dosimetry recordings, 
requests for dosimetry device approval, recordkeeping, requests for 
facility approval, trust fund agreement, and annual work plan.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities 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 functions of the Agency, 
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 0.0825093 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign plant protection services, irradiation 
facility personnel, importers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 125.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 999.16.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 124,895.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 10,305 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 12th day of May, 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-12166 Filed 5-14-03; 8:45 am]
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