[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 155 (Monday, August 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45215-45216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15804]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 155 / Monday, August 13, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 45215]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0075]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Accreditation of Nongovernment Facilities

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 accrediting nongovernment facilities to 
perform services related to the export certification of plants or plant 
products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 12, 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-2007-0075 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-2007-0075, 
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-2007-0075.
    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 the accreditation program, contact Mr. 
Michael Ward, Senior Accreditation Program Manager, Phytosanitary 
Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 734-5227. 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: Accreditation of Nongovernment Facilities.
    OMB Number: 0579-0130.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), among other things, 
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 pests specified by the receiving country. This 
activity is authorized by the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et 
seq.).
    The export certification regulations, which are contained in 7 CFR 
part 353, describe the procedures for obtaining certification for 
plants and plant products offered for export or reexport. Our 
regulations do not require that we engage in export certification 
activities; we perform this work as a service to exporters who are 
shipping plants or plant products to countries that require 
phytosanitary certification as a condition of entry.
    After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products 
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary 
inspection), an inspector will issue an internationally recognized 
phytosanitary certificate, a phytosanitary certificate for reexport, or 
an export certificate for processed plant products. Laboratory testing 
of plant or plant product samples is an important component of the 
certification process.
    The regulations allow nongovernment facilities (such as commercial 
laboratories and private inspection services) to be accredited by 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.
    The accreditation process requires the use of several information 
collection activities to ensure that nongovernment facilities applying 
for accreditation possess the necessary qualifications.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (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 
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 3.4482 hours per response.

[[Page 45216]]

    Respondents: Operators of nongovernment facilities who wish to be 
accredited to perform laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection 
services in connection with APHIS' export certification program and 
certain employees of such nongovernment facilities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 15.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.8.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 87.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 300 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 8th day of August 2007.
Cindy Smith,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-15804 Filed 8-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P