[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7528-7529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02559]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 5, 2020.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; 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; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by March 
11, 2020 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office 
Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are 
encouraged to submit

[[Page 7529]]

their comments to OMB via email to: [email protected] or fax 
(202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail 
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) may 
be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: 7 CFR 340; Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or 
Produced Through Genetic Engineering.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0085.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 
U.S.C. 7703 et seq.) the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to 
prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or movement of interstate 
commerce of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, 
noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance. If the Secretary 
determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent 
the introduction or the dissemination of a plant pest into the United 
States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
charged with preventing the introduction of plant pest into the United 
States or their dissemination within the United States. The statutory 
requirements for the information collection activity are found in the 
PPA. The regulations in 7 CFR part 340 implement the provisions of the 
PPA by providing the information necessary to establish conditions for 
proposed introductions of certain genetically engineered organisms and 
products which present a risk of plant pest introduction. APHIS will 
collect information using several APHIS forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect the information 
through a notification procedure or a permit requirement to ensure that 
certain genetically engineered organisms, when imported, moved 
interstate, or released into the environment, will not present a risk 
of plant pest introduction. The information collected through the 
petition process is used to determine whether a genetically engineered 
organism will pose a risk to agriculture or the environment if grown in 
the absence of regulations by APHIS. The information is also provided 
to State departments of agriculture for review and made available to 
the public and private sectors on the internet to ensure that all 
sectors are kept informed concerning any potential risks posed using 
genetic engineering technology.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 483.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,983.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-02559 Filed 2-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P