[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 162 (Monday, August 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 51797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19237]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-070-1]


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 for the importation of Hass 
avocados from Mexico.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 22, 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. 04-070-1, 
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. 04-070-1.
     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. 04-070-1'' 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 Hass avocados from Mexico, contact Ms. Karen 
Bedigian, Import Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-4382. 
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 Hass Avocados from Mexico.
    OMB Number: 0579-0129.
    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 Hass avocados from 
Michoacan, Mexico, into the United States, including 31 States and the 
District of Columbia, under certain conditions. The regulations require 
the use of permits, cooperative agreements, phytosanitary certificates, 
and box marking to indicate the States where distribution is 
prohibited.
    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 0.00006633 hours per response.
    Respondents: Mexican plant health officials; importers, shippers, 
distributors, and handlers of fresh Hass avocados imported from 
Michoacan, MX, into the United States.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 3,058.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 23,780.754.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 72,721,546.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,823 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 18th day of August 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-19237 Filed 8-20-04; 8:45 am]
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