[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47612-47613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19176]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0060]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Fresh Pitaya Fruit From Central 
America Into the Continental United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the regulations for the 
importation of fresh pitaya fruit from Central America into the 
continental United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0060.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0060, 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-2014-
0060 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 fresh pitaya fruit 
from Central America into the continental United States, contact Mr. 
David Lamb, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, RCC, RPM, PHP, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2103. 
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 Fresh Pitaya Fruit From Central America Into 
the Continental United States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0378.
    Type of Request: Revision to and 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'' 
(7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-69).
    Under these regulations, fresh pitaya from Central America may be 
imported into the continental United States under certain conditions, 
as listed in 7 CFR 319.56-55, to prevent the introduction of plant 
pests into the United States. The regulations require information 
collection activities, including production site certification and 
registration, review and maintenance of records, packinghouse 
registration, a workplan, records of fruit fly detections and checking 
of traps, identification of places of production on shipping documents, 
box marking, and a phytosanitary certificate with an additional 
declaration.
    When comparing the regulations to the information collection 
activities that were previously approved, we found that production site 
registration and box markings were omitted from the

[[Page 47613]]

previous collection. By adding these two activities to this information 
collection, the estimated total annual burden on respondents has 
increased from 122 hours to 284 hours, and the estimated annual number 
of responses has increased from 141 to 100,148. However, the estimate 
of burden has decreased from 0.8652 hours per response to 0.002 hours 
per response.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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 0.002 hours per response.
    Respondents: Shippers and producers of fresh pitaya and the 
national plant protection organizations in Central America.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 27.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3,709.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 100,148.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 284 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 8th day of August 2014.
 Kevin Shea,
 Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-19176 Filed 8-13-14; 8:45 am]
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