[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33192-33193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14175]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0025]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Phytosanitary Export Certification

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 issuance of 
phytosanitary certificates for plants or plant products being exported 
to foreign countries.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 8, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0025-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0025, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2011-
0025 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on regulations for 
phytosanitary export certification for plants and plant products being 
exported to foreign countries, contact Mr. Christian Dellis, Deputy 
Director, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5233. 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: Phytosanitary Export Certification.
    OMB Number: 0579-0052.
    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.
    It should be noted that 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.
    To request that we perform a phytosanitary inspection, an exporter 
must complete and submit an Application for Inspection and 
Certification of Plants and Plant Products for Export (PPQ Form 572).
    After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products 
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary 
inspection), an inspector (who may be an APHIS employee or a State or 
county plant regulatory official) will issue an internationally 
recognized phytosanitary certificate (PPQ Form 577), a phytosanitary 
certificate for reexport (PPQ Form 579), or an export certificate for 
processed plant products (PPQ Form 578).
    These forms are critical to our ability to certify plants and plant 
products for export. Without them, we would be unable to conduct an 
export certification program.
    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

[[Page 33193]]

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 0.2459816 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. growers, shippers, and exporters, and State and 
county plant regulatory officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 10,991.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 130.43089.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,433,566.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 352,631 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 2nd day of June 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-14175 Filed 6-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P