[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 128 (Thursday, July 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36647-36648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12962]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 28, 2007.
    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 Management 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) 720-8958.
    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: Imported Seed and Screening.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0124.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests 
from entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests not 
widely distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported 
pest when eradication is feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the 
Federal Plant Pest Act authorizes the Department to

[[Page 36648]]

carry out this mission. Under the authority of the Federal Seed Act of 
1939, as amended, the USDA regulates the importation and interstate 
movement of certain agricultural and vegetable seeds. The Plant 
Protection & Quarantine Division of USDA's Animal & Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) has established a seed analysis program with 
Canada that allows U.S. companies that import seed for cleaning or 
processing to enter into compliance agreements with APHIS. This program 
eliminates the need for sampling shipments of Canadian-origin seed at 
the border, and allows certain seed importers to clean seed without the 
direct supervision of an APHIS inspector. APHIS will collect 
information using forms PPQ 925, Seed Analysis Certificate and PPQ 519, 
Compliance Agreement.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from PPQ 925 and PPQ 519 to ensure that imported seeds do not pose a 
health threat to U.S. agriculture. If the information were not 
collected there would be no way of preventing noxious weeds from 
entering the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,168.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 9,576.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Artificially Dwarfed Plants.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0176.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation, entry or movement of plants and plant pests, 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or 
their dissemination within the United States. The Plant Protection and 
Quarantine, a unit within USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS), enforce these regulations. Artificially dwarfed plants 
imported into the United States must be accompanied by a phytosanitary 
certificate of inspection issued by a plant health official employed by 
the government of the country from which the plants are exported.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from the phytosanitary certificate to state that the plants were: (1) 
Grown for at least 2 years in a nursery that is registered with the 
government of the country of export; (2) grown in pots containing only 
sterile growing media; (3) grown on benches at least 50 cm above the 
ground; and (4) inspected at least once each year by the plant 
protection service of the country of export. The collected information 
will enable PPQ to verify that the imported plants were grown under 
conditions that help keep the plants free from infestation by certain 
longhorned beetles and other pests. Without the information APHIS could 
not verify that imported nursery stock does not present significant 
risk of introducing plant pests and plant diseases into the United 
States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms; 
State, Local or Tribal Government; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 30.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 38.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-12962 Filed 7-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P