[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 60 (Thursday, March 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14767-14768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5780]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0173]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Imported Seed and Screenings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

[[Page 14768]]


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 importation of seed and 
screenings.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
29, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.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-2006-0173 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-2006-0173, 
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-2006-0173.
    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 regulations for importation of seed and 
screenings, contact Mr. Rodney Young, Botanist, Plant Protection and 
Quarantine, APHIS, Seed Examination Facility, Bldg. 580, BARC-E, 
Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 504-8605; ext. 254. 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: Imported Seed and Screenings.
    OMB Number: 0579-0124.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the authority of the Federal Seed Act (FSA) of 
1939, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1551 et seq.), the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) regulates the importation and interstate movement of 
certain agricultural and vegetable seeds and screenings. Title III of 
the FSA, ``Foreign Commerce,'' requires shipments of imported 
agricultural and vegetable seeds to be labeled correctly and to be 
tested for the presence of the seeds of certain noxious weeds as a 
condition of entry into the United States. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service's regulations implementing the provisions of title 
III of the FSA are found in 7 CFR part 361.
    The regulations require the use of a number of information 
collection activities, including declaration of importation, container 
labeling, notification of seed location, a seed return request, seed 
analysis certificates (PPQ Form 925), a compliance agreement (PPQ Form 
519), seed identity maintenance, and associated recordkeeping.
    We are asking 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 0.37826 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers of seed and screenings, seed cleaning/
processing facility personnel, officials of the Canadian Food 
Inspection Agency (CFIA), and private seed laboratories accredited by 
CFIA.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,200.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 25.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 30,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 11,348 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 23rd day of March 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-5780 Filed 3-28-07; 8:45 am]
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