[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 78230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32247]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0112]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Requirements for Requests to Amend Import Regulations

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 the requirements for requests to amend 
import regulations for plants, plant parts, and plant products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 14, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0112-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0112, 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-
0112 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 
requests to amend import regulations, contact Mr. Farrell Wise, Chief, 
Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-6805. 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: Requirements for Requests to Amend Import Regulations.
    OMB Number: 0579-0261.
    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, or 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. Regulations 
governing the importation of plants, fruits, vegetables, roots, bulbs, 
seeds, unmanufactured wood articles, and other plant products are 
contained in 7 CFR part 319, ``Foreign Quarantine Notices.''
    Persons who request changes to the import regulations and who wish 
to import plants, plant parts, or plant products that are not allowed 
importation into the United States, must file a request with Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for consideration to determine 
whether the new commodity may be safely imported. This process requires 
the use of information collection activities, including information 
about the requestor, information about the commodity to be imported, 
shipping information, a description of pests and diseases associated 
with the commodity, risk mitigation or management strategies, and 
additional information as determined by APHIS to complete a pest risk 
analysis in accordance with international standards.
    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 40 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, national plant protection organizations, 
and producers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 37.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 74.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,960 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 12th day of December 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32247 Filed 12-15-11; 8:45 am]
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