[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 63467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26638]



[[Page 63467]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0083]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Fresh Peppers From Ecuador Into 
the United States

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 peppers from Ecuador into the continental United 
States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 8, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0083.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0083, 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-2018-
0083 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 regulations 
related to the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador into the 
United States, contact Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Senior Regulatory Policy 
Coordinator, Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2352. For 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 Peppers From Ecuador Into the United 
States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0437.
    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 regulates 
the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from 
certain parts of the world as provided in 7 CFR 319.56, ``Subpart--
Fruits and Vegetables''.
    In accordance with the regulations, fresh peppers from Ecuador may 
be imported into the continental United States under certain conditions 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States. 
These conditions require the use of certain information collection 
activities, including development of an operational workplan and a 
quality control plan; production site and packinghouse registrations; 
production site and insect trap inspections and recordkeeping; box 
labeling; notices of arrival to ports; responses to emergency action 
notifications, and permit applications. Also, each consignment of 
peppers must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by 
the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Ecuador containing 
an additional declaration stating the peppers were produced and 
prepared for export in accordance with the regulations. These actions 
allow the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador while continuing to 
protect the United States against the introduction of plant pests.
    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 burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.01 hours per response.
    Respondents: NPPO of Ecuador, import brokers, commercial producers, 
and packinghouses.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 803.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 253.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 202,928.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,117 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 3rd day of December 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26638 Filed 12-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P