[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54020-54021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25332]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0077]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Nursery Stock

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 nursery 
stock.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 21, 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-2009-0077) 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-2009-0077, 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-2009-0077.
    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 the 
importation of nursery stock, contact Dr. Arnold T. Tschanz, Senior 
Plant Pathologist, Risk Management and Plants for Planting Policy, RPM, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-
0627. 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 Nursery Stock.
    OMB Number: 0579-0279.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to restrict the importation, 
entry, and interstate movement of plants, plant products, and other 
articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United 
States or their dissemination within the United States. APHIS 
regulations contained in``Subpart--Nursery Stock Plants, Roots, Bulbs, 
Seeds, and Other Plant Products (Sec. Sec.  319.37 through 319.37-14) 
restrict, among other things, the importation of living plants, plant 
parts, seeds, and plant cuttings for planting or propagation.
    In accordance with these regulations, nursery stock from certain 
parts of the world may be imported into the United States only under 
certain conditions to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the 
United States. These conditions involve the use of information 
collection activities, including phytosanitary certificates with 
additional declaration statements, grower registration and agreements, 
requests for reinstatement to export program, and box labeling.

[[Page 54021]]

    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 0.10914 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign national plant protection organizations; 
importers of nursery stock.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 52.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 79.46.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 4,132.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 451 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 15\th\ day of October, 2009.

Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-25332 Filed 10-20-09: 12:21 pm]
BILLING CODE: 3410-34-S