[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 4865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01754]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0108]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Environmental Monitoring

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 environmental monitoring.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
31, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0108-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0108, 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-
0108 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 environmental 
monitoring, contact Dr. Robert Baca, Environmental Compliance Lead, 
RPM, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 
851-2292. 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: Environmental Monitoring.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0117.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to 
provide leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and 
plants, to improve agricultural productivity and competitiveness, and 
to contribute to the national economy and the public health.
    APHIS is committed to accomplishing its mission in a manner that 
promotes and protects the integrity of the environment. This includes 
APHIS' compliance with all applicable environmental statutes and 
regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the regulations of the Council on Environmental 
Quality implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and 
APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). APHIS engages in 
environmental monitoring for certain activities that we conduct to 
control or eradicate certain pests and diseases. We monitor those 
activities that have the greatest potential for harm to the human 
environment to ensure that the mitigation measures developed to avoid 
that harm are enforced and effective. In many cases, monitoring is 
required where APHIS programs are conducted close to habitats of 
endangered and threatened species. This monitoring is developed in 
coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and 
Wildlife Service, in compliance with the Endangered Species Act (50 
U.S.C. 17.11 and 17.12).
    APHIS field personnel and State cooperators jointly use an 
Environmental Monitoring Form (APHIS Form 2060) to collect information 
concerning the effects of pesticide use in these sensitive areas. The 
goal of environmental monitoring is to track the potential impact that 
APHIS activities may have on the environment and to use this knowledge 
in making any necessary adjustments in future program actions.
    This information collection activity was previously approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with an estimated annual number 
of respondents of 150. However, since the last approval, we no longer 
gather information from individual households. As a result, we have 
adjusted the estimated annual number of respondents, the estimated 
annual number of responses, and the estimated total annual burden on 
respondents.
    We are asking OMB to approve our use of this information collection 
activity 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 0.50 hours per response.
    Respondents: Growers, appliers of pesticides, State department of 
agriculture personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 110.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,200.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,100 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 23rd day of January 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-01754 Filed 1-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P