[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42036-42037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15812]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-063-1]


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 fruits and 
vegetables.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 13, 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. 04-063-1, 
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. 04-063-1.
     E-mail: Address your comment to 
[email protected]. Your comment must be contained in the body

[[Page 42037]]

of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name 
and address in your message and ``Docket No. 04-063-1'' 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 regulations 
for the importation of fruits and vegetables, 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 Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0128.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
responsible for preventing plant pests from entering the United States 
and controlling and eradicating plant pests in the United States. The 
Plant Protection Act authorizes the Department to carry out this 
mission. The Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program of USDA's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for 
implementing the regulations that carry out the intent of this Act. The 
regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 through 
319.56-8) prohibit or restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables 
into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the 
introduction and dissemination of plant pests, including fruit flies, 
that are new to or not widely distributed within the United States.
    The regulations in Sec.  319.56-2w allow papayas to be imported 
into the continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands from certain regions of Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama under specified conditions. 
Allowing papayas to be imported necessitates the use of certain 
information collection activities, including completing phytosanitary 
inspection certificates, maintaining fruit fly monitoring records, and 
marking the cartons.
    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 1.002 hours per response.
    Respondents: Papaya producers and plant health officials in Brazil, 
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 50.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 500.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 501 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 7th day of July 2004.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-15812 Filed 7-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P