[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11751-11752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4767]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2011 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11751]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0118]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Environmental Monitoring Form

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 environmental monitoring.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
2, 2011.

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-2010-0118 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2010-0118, 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-2010-0118.
    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 environmental 
monitoring, contact Dr. Robert Baca, Team Leader, Environmental 
Compliance, Emergency and Domestic Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-7592. 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: Environmental Monitoring Form.
    OMB Number: 0579-0117.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture is to 
provide leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and 
plants, to improve agricultural productivity and competitiveness, and 
to contribute to the national economy and the public health.
    APHIS is committed to accomplishing its mission in a manner that 
promotes and protects the integrity of the environment. This includes 
APHIS' compliance with all applicable environmental statutes.
    Primary among these statutes is the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the regulations of the Council on 
Environmental Quality implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA 
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR 
part 1b), and APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). 
APHIS engages in environmental monitoring for certain activities that 
we conduct to control or eradicate certain pests and diseases. We 
monitor those activities that have the greatest potential for harm to 
the human environment to ensure that the mitigation measures developed 
to avoid that harm are enforced and effective. In many cases, 
monitoring is required where APHIS programs are conducted close to 
habitats of endangered and threatened species. This monitoring is 
developed in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Fish and Wildlife Service, in compliance with the Endangered Species 
Act (50 U.S.C. 17.11 and 17.12).
    APHIS field personnel and State cooperators jointly use APHIS Form 
2060, Environmental Monitoring Form, to collect information concerning 
the effects of pesticide use in these sensitive areas. The goal of 
environmental monitoring is to track the potential impact that APHIS 
activities may have on the environment and to use this knowledge in 
making any necessary adjustments in future program actions.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of APHIS Form 2060 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 0.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Growers, appliers of pesticides, State department of 
agriculture personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 150.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,500 hours. (Due to

[[Page 11752]]

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 25th day of February 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-4767 Filed 3-2-11; 8:45 am]
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