[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30091-30092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12751]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0026]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Accreditation of Nongovernment Facilities

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 accrediting nongovernment facilities to 
perform services related to the export of plants or plant products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
25, 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-2011-0026 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0026, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Available supporting documents and any comments we receive on this 
docket may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (follow the link 
above and click ``View Docket Folder'') or in our reading room, which 
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 accreditation 
program, contact Mr. Michael Ward, Senior Accreditation Program 
Manager, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5227. 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: Accreditation of Nongovernment Facilities.
    OMB Number: 0579-0130.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
among other things, provides export certification services to assure 
other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving 
from the United States are free of plant pests specified by the 
receiving country. This activity is authorized by the Plant Protection 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
    The export certification regulations, which are contained in 7 CFR 
part 353, describe the procedures for obtaining certification for 
plants and plant products offered for export or reexport. Our 
regulations do not require that we engage in export certification 
activities; we perform this work as a service to exporters who are 
shipping plants or plant products to countries that require 
phytosanitary certification as a condition of entry.
    After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products 
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary 
inspection), an inspector will issue an internationally recognized 
phytosanitary certificate, a phytosanitary certificate for reexport, or 
an export certificate for processed plant products. Laboratory testing 
of plant or plant product samples is an important component of the 
certification process.
    The regulations allow nongovernment facilities (such as commercial

[[Page 30092]]

laboratories and private inspection services) to be accredited by APHIS 
to perform specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspections 
that could serve as the basis for issuing Federal phytosanitary 
certificates, phytosanitary certificates for reexport, or export 
certificates for processed plant products.
    The accreditation process requires the use of several information 
collection activities to ensure that nongovernment facilities applying 
for accreditation possess the necessary qualifications.
    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 3.4482758 hours per response.
    Respondents: Operators of nongovernment facilities who wish to be 
accredited to perform laboratory testing or phyosanitary inspection 
services in connection with APHIS' export certification program and 
certain employees of such nongovernment facilities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 15.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.8.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 87.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 300 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 18th day of May 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-12751 Filed 5-23-11; 8:45 am]
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