[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34870-34871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9468]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0060]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Certification Program for Imported Articles of Pelargonium 
spp. and Solanum spp. To Prevent Introduction of Potato Brown Rot

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 a certification program for 
imported articles of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. to prevent the 
introduction of potato brown rot.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 15, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, 
in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal Actions'' box, select 
``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-
down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
APHIS-2006-0060 to submit or view public comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information 
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing 
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close 
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' 
link.
    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your 
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0060, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0060.
    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: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on an information 
collection associated with importation regulations to prevent the 
introduction of potato brown rot, contact Mr. William Thomas, Executive 
Director, Quarantine Policy, Analysis and Support, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20732-1231; (301) 734-8295. 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: Certification Program for Imported Articles of Pelargonium 
spp. and Solanum spp. to Prevent Introduction of Potato Brown Rot.
    OMB Number: 0579-0221.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is authorized to 
prohibit or restrict the importation of plants, plant products, plant 
pests, and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests 
into the United States.
    The regulations in 7 CFR part 319 prohibit or restrict the 
importation of certain plants and plant products into the United States 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests. The regulations contained 
in ``Subpart-Nursery Stock, Plants, Roots, Bulbs, Seeds, and Other 
Plant products,'' Sec. Sec.  319.37 through 319.37-14 (referred to 
below as the regulations), restrict, among other things, the 
importation of living plants, plant parts, seeds, and plant cuttings 
for propagation.
    The regulations include a certification program for articles of 
Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. imported from countries where the 
bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 is known

[[Page 34871]]

to occur. The requirements of the certification program were designed 
to ensure that Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 will not be 
introduced into the United States through the importation of articles 
of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. This bacterial strain causes 
potato brown rot, which causes potatoes to rot through, making them 
unusable and seriously affecting potato yields.
    The certification program requires the collection of information 
through phytosanitary certificates (foreign), trust funds, and 
compliance agreements.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Growers, State plant regulatory officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 27.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 37.851851.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,022.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,022 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 12th day of June 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-9468 Filed 6-15-06; 8:45 am]
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