[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 68016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30232]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-108-1]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 unshu 
oranges from Kyushu Island and Honshu Island, Japan, into the United 
States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 3, 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. 03-108-1, 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. 03-108-1. 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. 
03-108-1'' 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 unshu oranges from Kyushu Island and Honshu 
Island, Japan, 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 Unshu Oranges.
    OMB Number: 0579-0173.
    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-Citrus Fruit'' (7 CFR 319.28) allow 
the importation of unshu oranges from Kyushu Island and Honshu Island, 
Japan, into the United States under certain conditions. Among other 
things, the individual boxes in which the oranges are shipped must be 
stamped or printed with a statement specifying the States into which 
the oranges may be imported and from which they are prohibited removal 
under a Federal plant quarantine. The unshu oranges must also be 
accompanied by a certificate from the Japanese plant protection service 
certifying that the fruit is apparently free of citrus canker.
    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: Full-time, salaried plant health officials of Japan's 
plant protection service and growers of unshu oranges.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 10.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 10 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 1st day of December 2003.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30232 Filed 12-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P