[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65854-65855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26727]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0070]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment of Imported Fruits and 
Vegetables

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 use of irradiation as a 
phytosanitary treatment of imported fruits and vegetables.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0070-0001.

[[Page 65855]]

     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0070, 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-2012-
0070 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
regulations for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment of 
imported fruits and vegetables, contact Dr. Paul Gadh, Senior Risk 
Manager--Treatments, Regulations, Permits, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2141. 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: Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment of Imported Fruits and 
Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0155.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States 
Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to 
regulate the importation of plants, plant products, including fruits 
and vegetables, and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant 
pests and noxious weeds into the United States.
    Regulations governing the importation of fruits and vegetables are 
set out in 7 CFR part 319. In accordance with the regulations, some 
fruits and vegetables from certain regions of the world must be treated 
for insect pests in order to be eligible for entry into the United 
States.
    The regulations in 7 CFR part 305 provide for the use of 
irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for fruits and vegetables 
imported into the United States. The irradiation treatment provides 
protection against all insect pests including fruit flies, the mango 
seed weevil, and others. It may be used as an alternative to other 
approved treatments for these pests in fruits and vegetables, such as 
fumigation, cold treatment, heat treatment, and other techniques.
    The regulations concerning irradiation treatment involve the 
collection of information, including a compliance agreement, 24-hour 
notification, labeling, dosimetry recordings, requests for dosimetry 
device approval, requests for facility approval, trust fund agreement, 
and annual work plan, as well as recordkeeping.
    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 0.008 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign plant protection services, irradiation 
facility personnel, importers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 105.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 384.8.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 40,404.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 332 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 25th day of October 2012.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26727 Filed 10-30-12; 8:45 am]
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