[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51057-51058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18787]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-073-1]


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 associated with regulations governing the importation of 
tomatoes from Spain, Chile, France, Morocco, and Western Sahara to 
prevent the introduction of foreign plant pests into the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or 
view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the 
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public 
docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered 
EDOCKET, click on the ``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate this 
document.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-073-1, 
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. 04-073-1.
     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. 04-073-1'' 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 foreign 
quarantine regulations, contact, Hesham Abuelnaga, Import Specialist, 
Phytosanitary Issues Management, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5334. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information

[[Page 51058]]

collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Importation of Tomatoes from Spain, Chile, France, Morocco, 
and Western Sahara.
    OMB Number: 0579-0131.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
responsible for, among other things, preventing the introduction and 
dissemination of plant pests into or through the United States 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 of plant pests, including fruit flies, that 
are new to or not widely distributed within the United States.
    The regulations in 319.56-2dd allow tomatoes from Spain, Chile, 
France, Morocco, and Western Sahara to be imported into the United 
States subject to certain conditions. Allowing tomatoes to be imported 
necessitates the use of certain information collection activities, 
including completing phytosanitary inspection certificates and 
maintaining records regarding trap placement and Mediterranean fruit 
fly (Medfly) captures. The information we collect serves as the 
supporting documentation needed to confirm that the tomatoes meet the 
conditions set forth in the regulations.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity 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 
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 0.6960 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, foreign officials, shippers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 34.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 72.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2448.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1704 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 10th day of August 2004.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-18787 Filed 8-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P