[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 5481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2445]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0113]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Special Need Requests Under the Plant Protection Act

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 
(APHIS) intention to request an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with regulations to allow States to impose 
prohibitions or restrictions on specific articles in addition to those 
required by APHIS to help protect against the introduction and 
establishment of plant pests.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
3, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0113-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0113, 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-
0113 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 special need 
requests under the Plant Protection Act, contact Ms. Lynn Evans-
Goldner, National Program Manager, EDP, 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: Special Need Request Under the Plant Protection Act.
    OMB Number: 0579-0291.
    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. This authority 
has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS), which administers regulations to implement the PPA. 
Regulations governing the interstate movement of plants, plant 
products, and other articles are contained in 7 CFR part 301, 
``Domestic Quarantine Notices.''
    The regulations in ``Subpart-Preemption and Special Need Requests'' 
allow States or political subdivisions of States to request approval 
from APHIS to impose prohibitions or restrictions on the movement in 
interstate commerce of specific articles that pose a plant health risk 
that are in addition to the prohibitions and restrictions imposed by 
APHIS. This process requires information collection activities, 
including a pest data detection survey with a pest risk analysis 
showing that a pest is not present in a State, or, if already present, 
the current distribution in the State, and that the pest would harm or 
injure the environment and/or agricultural resources of the State or 
political subdivision.
    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 160 hours per response.
    Respondents: State Governments.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 160 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 30th day of January 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-2445 Filed 2-2-12; 8:45 am]
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