[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6407-6408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2278]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 2, 2005.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Mangement and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
(202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: 7 CFR 340; Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or 
Produced Through Genetic Engineering.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0085.

[[Page 6408]]

    Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) is charged with preventing the introduction into, and 
dissemination and establishment of plant pests in the United States. 
The statutory requirements for the information collection activity are 
found in the Plant Pest Act (PPA). The regulations in 7 CFR part 340 
implement the provisions of the PPA by providing the information 
necessary to establish conditions for proposed introductions of certain 
genetically engineered organisms and products which present a risk of 
plant pest introduction. APHIS will collect information using several 
APHIS forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect the information 
through a notification procedure or a permit requirement to ensure that 
certain genetically engineered organisms, when imported, moved 
interstate, or released into the environment, will not present a risk 
of plant pest introduction. The information collected through the 
petition process is used to determine whether a genetically engineered 
organism will pose a risk to agriculture or the environment if grown in 
the absence of regulations by APHIS. The information is also provided 
to State departments of agriculture for review, and made available to 
the public and private sectors on the Internet to ensure that all 
sectors are kept informed concerning any potential risks posed through 
the use of genetic engineering technology.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; Not-for-
profit intstitutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 97.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,676.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Export Certification, Accreditation of Non-Government 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0130.
    Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture is responsible 
for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United 
States, as well as the spread of pests not widely distributed in the 
United States, and eradicating those imported when eradication is 
feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the Federal Pest Act authorize 
the Department to carry out this mission. The regulations in 7 CFR part 
353 allow non-government facilities (such as commercial laboratories 
and private inspection services) to be accredited by the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to perform specific laboratory 
testing or phytosanitary inspections that could serve as the basis for 
issuing Federal phytosanitary certificates, phytosanitary certificates 
for reexport, or export certificates for processed plant products. 
APHIS provides export certification services to assure other countries 
that the plants and plant products they are receiving from the United 
States are free of plant diseases and insect pests.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information for 
applications submitted by operator/owner of a non-government facility 
seeking accreditation to conduct laboratory testing or phytosanitary 
inspection. The application should contain the legal name and full 
address of the facility, the name, address, telephone and fax numbers 
of the facility's operator, a description of the facility, and a 
description of the specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary 
inspection services for which the facility is seeking accreditation. If 
the activities are not conducted properly, APHIS export certification 
program would be compromised, causing a disruption in plant and plant 
product exports that could prove financially damaging to U.S. 
exporters.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 315.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-2278 Filed 2-4-05; 8:45 am]
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