[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65068-65069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18737]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0163]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Untreated Oranges, Tangerines, and Grapefruit From Mexico 
Transiting the United States to Foreign Countries

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 untreated oranges, 
tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico transiting the United States to 
foreign countries.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://regulations.gov, 
select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency 
drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
APHIS-2006-0163 to submit or view public comments and to

[[Page 65069]]

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-
2006-0163, 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-2006-0163.
    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 regarding regulations 
for untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico 
transiting the United States to foreign countries, contact Mr. Dave 
Hanken, Senior Staff Officer, Quarantine Policy, Analysis, and Support, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 
734-5395. 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: Untreated Oranges, Tangerines, and 
Grapefruit from Mexico Transiting the United States to Foreign 
Countries.
    OMB Number: 0579-0303.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 
et seq.) (PPA), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict 
the importation, entry, exportation, or movement in interstate commerce 
of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, 
means of conveyance, or other article if the Secretary determines that 
the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent a plant pest or 
noxious weed from being introduced into or disseminated within the 
United States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which administers regulations 
to implement the PPA.
    The plant quarantine safeguard regulations in 7 CFR part 352 allow 
certain products or articles that are classified as prohibited or 
restricted products or articles under other regulations in title 7 to 
be moved through the United States under certain conditions. Such 
articles include fruits and vegetables that are moved into the United 
States for: (1) A temporary stay where unloading or landing is not 
intended, (2) unloading or landing for transshipment and exportation, 
(3) unloading or landing for transportation and exportation, or (4) 
unloading and entry at a port other than the port of first arrival.
    The regulations in Sec.  352.30 address the movement of untreated 
oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico into or through the 
United States in transit to foreign countries. These regulations 
require the trucking industry and shippers to obtain permits from APHIS 
that allow the untreated fruit to transit the United States.
    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 0.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Trucking industry; shippers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 400.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 400.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 200 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 1st day of November 2006.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-18737 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P