[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 77 (Monday, April 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18891-18892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08207]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0026]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Fresh Pomegranates From Chile

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 pomegranates from Chile into the continental 
United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

[[Page 18892]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0026.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0026, 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-2017-
0026 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 
fresh pomegranates from Chile, contact Dr. Robert Baca, Assistant 
Director, Permitting and Compliance Coordination, Compliance and 
Environmental Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 
150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2292. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, 
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation of Fresh Pomegranates From Chile.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0375.
    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 319.56-76).
    Under the regulations, fresh pomegranates from Chile may be 
imported into the continental United States under certain conditions, 
as listed in 7 CFR 319.56-56, to prevent the introduction of plant 
pests into the United States. Under the systems approach, the fruit has 
to be grown in a place of production that is registered with the 
Government of Chile and certified as having a low prevalence of 
Brevipalpus chilensis. The fruit must undergo pre-harvest sampling at 
the registered production site. Following post-harvest processing, the 
fruit must be inspected in Chile at an approved inspection site. Each 
consignment of fruit must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate 
with an additional declaration stating that the fruit has been found 
free of B. chilensis based on field and packinghouse inspections. This 
allows for the safe importation of pomegranates from Chile using 
mitigation measures other than fumigation with methyl bromide.
    The regulations require respondents to complete documents such as a 
foreign phytosanitary certificate, phytosanitary inspections, marking 
of cartons, production site registration, a list of certified 
production sites, low prevalence production site certification, and 
identifying shipping documents.
    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 0.015 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers, producers, and the national plant 
protection organization of Chile.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 5.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 6,190.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 30,949.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 480 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 19th day of April 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-08207 Filed 4-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P