[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 242 (Friday, December 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 67164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30127]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0089]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Imported Seed and Screenings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 importation of seed and 
screenings.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 18, 2010.

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-2009-0089) 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-2009-0089, 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-2009-0089.
    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 seed and screenings, contact Mr. Rodney Young, Botanist, 
Plant Protection and Quarantine, Seed Examination Facility, Bldg. 580, 
BARC-E, Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 504-8605; ext. 254. 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: Imported Seed and Screenings.
    OMB Number: 0579-0124.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the authority of the Federal Seed Act (FSA) of 
1939, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1551 et seq.), the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) regulates the importation and interstate movement of 
certain agricultural and vegetable seeds and screenings. Title III of 
the FSA, ``Foreign Commerce,'' requires shipments of imported 
agricultural and vegetable seeds to be labeled correctly and to be 
tested for the presence of the seeds of certain noxious weeds as a 
condition of entry into the United States. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service's regulations implementing the provisions of title 
III of the FSA are found in 7 CFR part 361.
    The regulations involve the use of information collection 
activities, including declaration of importation, container labeling, 
notification of seed location, a seed return request, seed analysis 
certificates (PPQ Form 925), a compliance agreement (PPQ Form 519), 
seed identity maintenance, and associated 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.
    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 0.3553743 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers of seed and screenings, seed cleaning/
processing facility personnel, officials of the Canadian Food 
Inspection Agency (CFIA), and private seed laboratories accredited by 
CFIA.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,168.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 23.099315.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 26,980.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 9,588 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 11\th\ day of December 2009.

Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-30127 Filed 12-17-09; 7:49 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S