[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73612-73613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29882]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0093]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced 
Through Genetic Engineering

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 regulations for the introduction of 
organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 11, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0093-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0093, 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-
0093 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 introduction of organisms and products altered or 
produced through genetic engineering, contact Ms. Cynthia A. Eck, 
Document Control Officer, Regulatory Operations Programs, BRS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 91, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3892. 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: 7 CFR part 340; Introduction of Organisms and Products 
Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering.
    OMB Number: 0579-0085.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et 
seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation, entry, or movement in interstate commerce of 
any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, 
article, or means of conveyance, if the Secretary determines that the 
prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction or 
the dissemination of a plant pest into the United States.
    Under that authority, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established regulations 
in 7 CFR part 340, ``Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or 
Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which 
There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests.'' The regulations govern 
the introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the 
environment) of covered genetically engineered organisms and products 
(``regulated articles''). A permit must be obtained or a notification 
acknowledged before a regulated article may be introduced.
    The regulations set forth the permit application requirements and 
the notification procedures for the importation, interstate movement, 
or release into the environment of a regulated article and necessitate 
certain information and recordkeeping requirements, including APHIS-
issued permits, applicants' field testing records, and the submission 
of protocols to ensure compliance.
    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:

[[Page 73613]]

    (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 0.945142857 hours per response.
    Respondents: Applicants from agricultural companies.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 121.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 29.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,500.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,308 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 6th day of December 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29882 Filed 12-10-12; 8:45 am]
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