[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54417-54418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18884]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 25, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54417]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0073]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Environmental Monitoring Form

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 environmental monitoring.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 26, 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-2007-0073 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-2007-0073, 
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-2007-0073.
    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 environmental monitoring, contact Dr. Robert 
Baca, Team Leader, Environmental Compliance, Emergency and Domestic 
Programs, PPQ, 4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 
734-7592. 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: Environmental Monitoring Form.
    OMB Number: 0579-0117.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture is to 
protect the health and value of American animal and plant resources. In 
carrying out this mission, APHIS ensures appropriate consideration of 
the potential environmental effects of its programs.
    In accordance with (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of 
the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural 
provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA regulations 
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (7 CFR part 372), APHIS engages in environmental monitoring 
for certain activities that we conduct to control or eradicate certain 
pests and diseases. We monitor those activities that have the greatest 
potential for harm to the human environment to ensure that the 
mitigation measures developed to avoid that harm are enforced and 
effective. In many cases, monitoring is required where APHIS programs 
are conducted close to habitats of endangered and threatened species. 
This monitoring is developed in coordination with the U.S. Department 
of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, in compliance with the 
Endangered Species Act (50 U.S.C. 17.11 and 17.12).
    APHIS field personnel and State cooperators jointly use APHIS Form 
2060, Environmental Monitoring Form, to collect information concerning 
the effects of pesticide use in these sensitive areas. The goal of 
environmental monitoring is to track the potential impact that APHIS 
activities may have on the environment and to use this knowledge in 
making any necessary adjustments in future program actions.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of APHIS Form 2060 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: Growers, appliers of pesticides, State department of 
agriculture personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 150.

[[Page 54418]]

    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,500 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 19th day of September 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-18884 Filed 9-24-07; 8:45 am]
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