[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69601-69602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27483]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0122]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Requirements for Requests To Amend Import Regulations

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 requests to import 
commodities not already authorized by 7 CFR part 319.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 20, 2009.

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-2008-0122 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.

[[Page 69602]]

     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0122, 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-2008-0122.
    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 
requests to amend import regulations, contact Ms. Shirley A. Wager-
Page, Branch Chief, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-8453. 
For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Requirements for Requests To Amend Import Regulations.
    OMB Number: 0579-0261.
    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.), 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). Regulations governing the 
importation of plants, fruits, vegetables, roots, bulbs, seeds, 
unmanufactured wood articles, and other plant products are contained in 
7 CFR part 319, ``Foreign Quarantine Notices.''
    Persons who wish to import plants, plant parts, or plant products 
that are not already authorized under 7 CFR part 319 must file a 
request with APHIS in order for APHIS to consider whether the new 
commodity may be safely imported into the United States. The requestor 
must also provide information required by 7 CFR 319.5, including, but 
not limited to, information about the requestor, the commodity to be 
imported, the volume or quantity expected to be shipped, pests and 
diseases associated with the commodity, risk mitigation or management 
strategies, and additional information as may be requested by APHIS in 
order to complete a pest risk analysis in accordance with international 
standards.
    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 40 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers and foreign plant protection organizations 
and producers.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 35.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 105.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,200 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 13th day of November 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-27483 Filed 11-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P