[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59880-59881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-2523]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-100-1]


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 introduction of 
certain genetically engineered organisms and products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 6, 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. 04-100-1, 
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. 04-100-1.
     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. 04-100-1'' 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 on the regulations 
governing the introduction of genetically engineered organisms and 
products, contact Mr. Steven M. Bennett, Management Analyst, 
Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5672. 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: 7 CFR Part 340; Introduction of Organisms and Products 
Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering.
    OMB Number: 0579-0085.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), the 
Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict the importation, 
entry, or movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant product, 
biological control organism, noxious weed, article, or means of 
conveyance, if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or 
restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction or the 
dissemination of a plant pest into the United States.
    Under that authority, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture 
administers regulations in 7 CFR part 340, ``Introduction of Organisms 
and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are 
Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests.''
    The regulations require that persons who wish to introduce 
organisms or

[[Page 59881]]

products provide certain information through our permitting and 
notification process. This information includes, among other things, a 
complete description of the organism or product, the safeguards that 
will be used in preventing escape, the destination of field test 
locations, and field test results that describe any unusual or harmful 
occurrences. We use this information to evaluate the plant pest risk 
posed by the genetically engineered organisms and products.
    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 
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 0.9133 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. importers and shippers of genetically engineered 
organisms and products and agricultural companies that produce or test 
genetically engineered organisms or products or that engage in product 
research and development.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 375.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 7.8133.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,930.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,676 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 30th day of September 2004.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E4-2523 Filed 10-5-04; 8:45 am]
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