[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40383-40384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17467]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0041]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment of Imported 
Fruits and Vegetables

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 regulations for the use of 
irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment of imported fruits and 
vegetables.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0041.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0041, 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-2019-
0041 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 regarding the 
regulations for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment of 
imported fruits and vegetables, contact Ms. Kara Spofford, Offshore 
Certification Specialist, PPQ Preclearance and Offshore Programs, PHP, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 
851-2241. For more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, 
at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment of Imported Fruits and 
Vegetables.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0155.
    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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United 
States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to 
regulate the importation of plants, plant products (including fruits 
and vegetables), and other articles to prevent the introduction of 
plant pests and noxious weeds into the United States.
    Regulations governing the importation of fruits and vegetables are 
set out in ``Subpart L-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 
319.56-12). In accordance with these regulations, some fruits and 
vegetables from certain regions of the world must be treated for pests 
in order to be eligible for entry into the United States. The 
regulations in 7 CFR part 305 provide, among other things, for the use 
of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for some fruits and 
vegetables imported into the United States. Irradiation treatment 
provides protection against all insect pests, except adults and pupae 
of the order Lepidoptera. Irradiation treatment may be used as an 
alternative to other approved treatments for pests in fruits and 
vegetables, such as fumigation, cold treatment, heat treatment, and 
other techniques.
    The regulations concerning irradiation treatment involve the 
collection of information such as a compliance agreement, dosimetry 
agreement at the irradiation facility, request for dosimetry device 
approval, 30-day notification, labeling and packaging, recordkeeping, 
request for certification and inspection of facility, irradiation 
treatment workplan, facility preclearance workplan, trust fund 
agreement, phytosanitary certificate, denial and withdrawal of 
certification, and limited permit.
    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 0.038 hours per response.
    Respondents: National plant protection organizations of exporting 
countries, irradiation facility operators,

[[Page 40384]]

and U.S. importers of fruits and vegetables.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 43.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 483.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 20,774.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 805 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 2019.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-17467 Filed 8-13-19; 8:45 am]
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