[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54418-54419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18897]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0126]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Fruits and Vegetables

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 the importation of fruits 
and vegetables.

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-2007-0126 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-2007-0126, 
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-2007-0126.
    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 regulations 
associated with the importation of fruits and vegetables, contact Ms. 
Donna L. West, Senior Import Specialist, Commodity Import Analysis and 
Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 734-8758. 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: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0128.
    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 regulations in Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables (7 CFR 319.56 
through 319.56-47) allow a number of fruits and vegetables to be 
imported into the United States, under specified conditions, from 
certain parts of the world. Importation of papayas from certain regions 
of Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and 
Panama into the continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the 
U.S. Virgin Islands requires the use of certain information collection 
activities, including phytosanitary certificates, maintaining fruit fly 
monitoring records, and marking the cartons.
    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 this information collection 
activity. These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for 
the proper performance of our agency's functions, 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 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 0.9940 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers of papayas and plant health officials in 
regions of Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, and Panama.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 50.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.08.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 500.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 501 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.


[[Page 54419]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of September 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-18897 Filed 9-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P