[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47692-47693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22223]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0081]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Karnal Bunt; Importation of Wheat and Related 
Articles

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 wheat and related articles from regions affected with 
Karnal bunt.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0081.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0081, 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-
0081 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 Karnal bunt and the 
importation of wheat and related articles, contact Mr. George Galasso, 
National Trade Director, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2050. 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: Karnal Bunt; Importation of Wheat and Related Articles.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0240.
    Type of Request: Revision to and 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, among other things, to 
prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or interstate movement of 
plants, plant products, biological control organism, noxious weeds, 
means of conveyances, and other articles to prevent the introduction of 
plant pests or noxious weeds 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).
    Karnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum 
wheat (Triticum durum), and triticale (Triticum aestivum X Secale 
cereale), a hybrid of wheat and rye. Karnal bunt is caused by the smut 
fungus Tilletia indica (Mitra) Mundkhur and is spread by spores, 
primarily through movement of infected seed.
    To prevent the introduction and spread of various wheat diseases, 
including Karnal bunt, APHIS' regulations in ``Subpart--Wheat 
Diseases'' (7 CFR 319.59-1 through 319.59-4) prohibit the importation 
of wheat seed, plants, straw, and other products into the United States 
from regions affected with Karnal bunt.
    The regulations require that certain regulated articles imported 
from Karnal bunt-free areas within regions regulated for Karnal bunt be 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that must be completed by an 
official of the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of the 
region of origin. The certificate must include a declaration stating 
that the regulated articles originated in areas where Karnal bunt is 
not known to occur, as attested to either by survey results or by 
testing for bunted kernels or spores. In addition, there are other 
information collection activities including notices of arrival, 
disinfection documents, and emergency action notice.
    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.

[[Page 47693]]

    Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.8 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers/exporters of wheat and related articles and 
the NPPO of the region of origin.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 4.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 56.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 224.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 186 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 6th day of October 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
 Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22223 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
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