[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 81466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33208]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0118]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Small Lots of Seed

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 importation of small 
lots of seed into the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0118-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0118, 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-
0118 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) 6902817 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on regulations for the 
importation of small lots of seed into the United States, contact Dr. 
Arnold Tschanz, Senior Plant Pathologist/Risk Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5306. 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: Importation of Small Lots of Seed.
    OMB Number: 0579-0285.
    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. The regulations 
contained in ``Subpart-Plants for Planting'' (7 CFR 319.37-1 through 
319.37-14) prohibit or restrict, among other things, the importation of 
living plants, plant parts, and seed for propagation.
    These regulations allow small lots of seed to be imported into the 
United States under an import permit with specific conditions, 
including seed packet labeling, as an alternative to a phytosanitary 
certificate requirement.
    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 0.035576923 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, horticultural societies, arboreta, and 
small business.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,600.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 13.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 20,800.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 740 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 19th day of December 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-33208 Filed 12-27-11; 8:45 am]
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