[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36506-36507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14466]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0035]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Plants for Planting

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
plants for planting.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 19, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0035-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0035, 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-
0035 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 regulations for 
the importation of plants for planting, contact Mr. Arnold Tschanz, 
Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, PPIP, PHP, PPQ, 4700 River Road 
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2179. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. 
Celeste Sickles, APHIS'

[[Page 36507]]

Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation of Plants for Planting.
    OMB Number: 0579-0279.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 
the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 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).
    APHIS regulations contained in ``Subpart-Plants for Planting'' (7 
CFR 319.37 through 319.37-14) prohibit or restrict, among other things, 
the importation of living plants, plant parts, seeds, and plant 
cuttings for planting or propagation. In accordance with these 
regulations, plants for planting from certain parts of the world may be 
imported into the United States only under certain conditions to 
prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States.
    Paragraph (u) of Sec.  319.37-5 provides the requirements for the 
importation of Pelargonium spp. plants from the Canary Islands, and 
paragraph (v) provides the requirements for the importation of plants 
from Israel, except bulbs, dormant perennials, and seeds. These 
requirements involve the use of information collection activities, 
including phytosanitary certificates with additional declaration 
statements, grower registration and agreements, and production site 
registration for the export program.
    These information collection activities were previously approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the title ``Importation 
of Nursery Stock.'' However, on May 27, 2011, we published in the 
Federal Register (76 FR 31172-31210, Docket No. APHIS-2006-0011) a 
final rule that changed the nursery stock regulations (7 CFR 319.37 
through 319.37-14) to refer instead to ``plants for planting.'' As a 
result, we have revised the title of this information collection to 
``Importation of Plants for Planting.''
    We are asking 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 0.11 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, nurseries, and the national plant 
protection organizations of Spain and Israel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 60.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 86.07.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 5,164.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 559 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 12th day of June 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-14466 Filed 6-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P