[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47691-47692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22346]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0080]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Black Stem Rust; Identification Requirements for Addition 
of Rust-Resistant Varieties

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 the black stem rust quarantine and 
regulations.

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-2017-0080.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0080, 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-
0080 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 black stem rust 
quarantine and regulations, contact Dr. Richard N. Johnson, National 
Policy Manager, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 26, Riverdale, 
MD 20737; (301) 851-2109. 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: Black Stem Rust; Identification Requirements for Addition of 
Rust-Resistant Varieties.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0186.
    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.
    Black stem rust is one of the most destructive plant diseases of 
small grains that is known to exist in the United States. The disease 
is caused by a fungus that reduces the quality and yield of infected 
wheat, oat, barley, and rye crops by robbing host plants of food and 
water. In addition to infecting small grains, the fungus lives on a 
variety of alternate host plants that are species of the genera 
Berberis, Mahoberberis, and Mahonia. The fungus is spread from host to 
host by wind-borne spores.
    The black stem rust quarantine and regulations, contained in 7 CFR 
301.38 through 301.38-8 (referred to below as the regulations), 
quarantine the conterminous 48 States and the District of Columbia and 
govern the interstate movement of certain plants of the genera 
Berberis, Mahoberberis, and Mahonia, known as barberry plants. The 
species of these plants are categorized as either rust-resistant or 
rust-susceptible. Rust-resistant plants do not pose a risk of spreading 
black stem rust or of contributing to the development of new races of 
rust; rust-susceptible plants do pose such risks.
    Paragraph (b) of Sec.  301.38-2 provides the requirements for the 
submission of a request to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service to add a variety to the list of rust-resistant barberry 
varieties in the regulations. A request must include a description of 
the variety, including a written description and color pictures that 
can be used by an inspector to clearly identify the variety and 
distinguish it from other varieties. This requirement helps to ensure 
that State plant inspectors can clearly determine whether plants moving 
into or through their States are rust-resistant varieties listed in 7 
CFR 301.38-2.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (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

[[Page 47692]]

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 burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4 hours per response.
    Respondents: Nurseries.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 4.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 8.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 32 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 11th day of October 2017.
 Michael C. Gregoire,
 Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22346 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P