[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40160-40161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19210]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0052]


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

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision and 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 revise an information collection associated with 
regulations to allow importation of certain fruits and vegetables into 
the United States and to request extension of approval of the 
information collection.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 13, 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-2009-0052 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-2009-0052, 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-2009-0052.
    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 the importation of 
fruits and vegetables, contact Ms. Donna L. West, Senior Import 
Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-5298. 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: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0316.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (PPA, 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). APHIS regulations authorized 
by the PPA concerning the importation of fruits and vegetables are 
contained in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (319.56-1 through 
319.56-49).
    Under these regulations, certain fruits and vegetables may be 
imported into the United States under specific conditions to prevent 
the introduction of plant pests into the United States. These 
conditions involve the use of information collection activities, 
including the issuance of permits and phytosanitary certificates, 
trapping surveys, labeling of boxes, and recordkeeping.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    This information collection includes information collection 
requirements currently approved by OMB control numbers 0579-0293, 
``Revision of Fruits and Vegetables Import Regulations,'' and 0579-
0316, ``Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.'' After OMB approves and 
combines the burden for both collections under a single collection 
(0579-0316), the Department will retire number 0579-0293.
    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:

[[Page 40161]]

    (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 1.5103216 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, exporters, and foreign national plant 
protection organizations.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,959.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 27.748901.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 82,109.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 124,011 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 5th day of August 2009.
William H. Clay,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-19210 Filed 8-10-09; 8:45 am]
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