[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 13300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04495]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 27, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 13300]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0001]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of 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 the regulations for the importation of 
certain fruits and vegetables into the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
29, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0001-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0001, 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-2013-
0001 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 on the importation of 
fruits and vegetables, contact Mr. Tony Rom[aacute]n, Regulatory Policy 
Specialist, PHP, PPQ, 4700 River Road Unit133, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 851-2242. 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 Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0316.
    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. As authorized 
by the PPA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
regulates the importation of certain fruits and vegetables in 
accordance with the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' 
(319.56-1 through 319.5658).
    Under these regulations, certain fruits and vegetables may be 
imported into the United States under specific conditions to prevent 
the introduction of plant pests into the United States. These 
conditions involve the use of information collection activities, 
including the issuance of phytosanitary certificates, trapping surveys, 
inspections by the exporting country, labeling of boxes, and 
recordkeeping. An additional information collection is the completion 
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, Plant Protection and 
Quarantine (PPQ), Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant 
Products (PPQ Form 587).
    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 1.4963 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers and exporters of fruits and vegetables, and 
national plant protection organizations of exporting countries.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,959.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 28.18.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 83,389.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 124,779 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 20th day of February 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-04495 Filed 2-26-13; 8:45 am]
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