[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65027-65028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28761]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-087-1]


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 importation of mangoes 
from the Republic of the Philippines.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 20, 2004.

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. 03-087-1, 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. 03-087-1. 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. 
03-087-1'' 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 importation of mangoes from the Republic of the Philippines, 
contact Mr. Alan S. Green, Assistant Director, Quarantine Policy, 
Analysis and Support, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 60, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8311. 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: Importation of Mangoes from the Philippines.
    OMB Number: 0579-0172.
    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 ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 
through 319.56-8) allow the importation of mangoes from Guimaras Island 
in the Republic of the Philippines into the United States under certain 
conditions. The regulations require the use of box marking to indicate 
the origin of the fruit, phytosanitary certificates to confirm that the 
fruit has been grown and treated in accordance with the regulations, 
and a trust fund agreement between the Republic of the Philippines 
Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to cover the Agency's 
participation in the treatment and inspection activities in the 
Philippines that are required for the importation of mangoes.
    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 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;
    (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 1.0 hour per response.
    Respondents: Philippine plant protection officials; mango producers 
and packinghouses on Guimaras Island, Philippines.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 40.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 40 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.)

[[Page 65028]]

    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 November, 2003.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-28761 Filed 11-17-03; 8:45 am]
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