[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 73 (Thursday, April 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19970-19971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8559]


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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. 69, No. 73 / Thursday, April 15, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 19970]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-024-1]


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 credit account approval for reimbursable 
services.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
14, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket 
No. 04-024-1, 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. 04-024-1.
     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. 04-024-1'' on the subject 
line.
     Agency Web site: Go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/cominst.html for a form you can use to 
submit an e-mail comment through the APHIS Web site.
    Reading Room: 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.
    Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the 
Federal Register and related information, including the names of groups 
and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding credit 
account approval for reimbursable services, contact Mrs. Kris Caraher, 
User Fees Section Head, FMD, MRPBS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 54, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1232; (301) 734-5743. 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: Credit Account Approval for Reimbursable Services.
    OMB Number: 0579-0055.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The services of a Federal inspector to clear imported and 
exported agricultural commodities for animal and plant health purposes 
are paid for by user fees during regular working hours. If an importer 
wishes to have shipments cleared at other hours, such services will 
usually be provided on a reimbursable overtime basis, unless already 
covered by a user fee. Exporters wishing cargo to be certified during 
nonworking hours may also utilize this procedure.
    Many importers and exporters who require inspection services are 
repeat customers who request that we bill them. We need to collect 
certain information to conduct a credit check on prospective applicants 
to ensure creditworthiness prior to extending credit services and to 
prepare billings. Also, the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, as 
amended (31 U.S.C. 3332), requires that agencies collect tax 
identification numbers from all persons doing business with the 
Government for purposes of collecting delinquent debts. APHIS Form 192 
is used to collect this information and must be completed before credit 
is extended.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection for an additional 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning this information collection 
activity. These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for 
the proper performance of our agency's functions, 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 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 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, exporters, or brokers who wish to set up an 
account for billing of inspection services provided during nonworking 
hours.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 256.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 256.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 64 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.


[[Page 19971]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of April 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-8559 Filed 4-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P