[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78228-78229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32327]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0105]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid; Quarantine and 
Interstate Movement 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 regulations to prevent the spread of citrus 
greening and its vector, Asian citrus psyllid, to noninfested areas of 
the United States.

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-2011-0105-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0105, 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-
0105 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 the 
interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of 
citrus greening and its vector, contact Ms. Lynn Evans-Goldner, 
National Program Manager, Emergency and Domestic Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 160, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-7228. 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: Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid; Quarantine and 
Interstate Movement Regulations.
    OMB Number: 0579-0363.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 
et seq.) (PPA), the Secretary of Agriculture, either independently or 
in cooperation with States, may carry out operations or measures to 
detect, eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard the spread of 
plant pests and diseases that are new to or not widely distributed 
within the United States. Under the Act, the Secretary may also issue 
regulations requiring plants and plant products moved in interstate 
commerce to be subject to remedial measures determined necessary to 
prevent the spread of the pest or disease, or requiring the objects to 
be accompanied by a permit issued by the Secretary prior to movement. 
This authority has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which 
administers regulations to implement the PPA.
    Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing disease of citrus, is 
considered to be one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. 
Citrus greening is a bacterial disease, caused by strains of the 
bacterial pathogen ``Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'' that attacks 
the vascular system of host plants. Citrus greening greatly reduces 
production, destroys the economic value of the fruit, and can kill 
trees. Once infected, there is no cure for a tree with citrus greening 
disease. In areas of the world where the disease is endemic, citrus 
trees decline and die within a few years and may never produce usable 
fruit.
    In accordance with the regulations in ``Subpart--Citrus Greening 
and Asian Citrus Psyllid'' (7 CFR 301.76 through 301.76-11), APHIS 
restricts the interstate movement of regulated articles from 
quarantined areas to control the artificial spread of citrus greening 
and the insect vector, Asian citrus psyllid, to noninfested areas of 
the United States. The regulations contain requirements that involve 
information collection activities, including a compliance agreement, 
limited permit, Federal certificate, recordkeeping, labeling statement, 
the attachment of a tag to consignee's waybill, and 72-hour inspection 
notification.

[[Page 78229]]

    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 0.1285 hours per response.
    Respondents: Commercial nurseries/operations in U.S. States or 
Territories quarantined for citrus greening or Asian citrus psyllid.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 621.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 23.2919.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13,882.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,785 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. 2011-32327 Filed 12-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P