[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 67 (Monday, April 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18732-18733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7191]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0038]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Phytosanitary Export Certification

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 issuance of 
phytosanitary certificates for plants or plant products being exported 
to foreign countries.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
6, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0038 to submit 
or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies 
of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0038, 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-2008-0038.
    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 for 
phytosanitary export certification for plants or plant products being 
exported to foreign countries, contact Mr. Marcus McElvaine, Senior 
Export Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-8414. 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: Phytosanitary Export Certification.
    OMB Number: 0579-0052.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
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.
    It should be noted that 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.
    To request that we perform a phytosanitary inspection, an exporter 
must complete and submit an Application for Inspection and 
Certification of Plants and Plant Products for Export (PPQ Form 572).
    After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products 
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary 
inspection), an inspector (who may be an APHIS employee or a State or 
county plant regulatory official) will issue an internationally 
recognized phytosanitary certificate (PPQ Form 577), a phytosanitary 
certificate for reexport (PPQ Form 579), or an export certificate for 
processed plant products (PPQ Form 578).
    These forms are critical to our ability to certify plants and plant 
products for export. Without them, we would be unable to conduct an 
export certification program.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.

[[Page 18733]]

    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 0.241330049 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. growers, shippers, and exporters; State and 
county plant regulatory officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 13,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 187.38461538.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,436,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 587,880 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 1st day of April 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-7191 Filed 4-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P