[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 105 (Monday, June 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33079-33080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11738]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 105 / Monday, June 1, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 33079]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0034]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; APHIS Credit and User Fee Accounts

ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information 
collection; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
(APHIS') intention to request a revision to and extension of approval 
of an information collection associated with establishing credit 
accounts and the collection of user fees for certain reimbursable APHIS 
services.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2020-0034.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2020-0034, 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-2020-
0034 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 APHIS user fees 
forms covered by this notice, contact Ms. Kris Caraher, Review and 
Analysis Branch Chief, Financial Management Division, MRPBS, APHIS, 
USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit 54, Riverdale, MD 20737-3148; (301) 851-
2834. For information on the information collection process, contact 
Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: APHIS Credit and User Fee Accounts.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0055.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: Section 2509 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990, as amended, authorizes the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) to establish credit accounts and collect 
user fees for providing import- and export-related services for 
animals, animal products, birds, germplasm, organisms, and vectors. In 
addition, this section authorizes APHIS to collect user fees for 
agricultural quarantine and inspection services, inspection and 
certification of plants and plant products offered for export or 
transiting the United States, and for providing veterinary diagnostic 
services and services related to the importation and exportation of 
animals and animal products.
    APHIS also provides the services of a Federal inspector to clear 
imported and exported agricultural commodities for animal and plant 
health purposes. These services are paid for by user fees during 
regular working hours. If an importer wishes to have shipments cleared 
at other hours, such services will usually be provided on a 
reimbursable overtime basis, unless already covered by a user fee. 
Exporters wishing cargo to be certified during nonworking hours may 
also utilize this procedure.
    The services that APHIS provides involves certain information 
collection activities. For example, many importers and exporters who 
require inspection services are repeat customers who request that APHIS 
bill them. The Agency needs to collect certain information to conduct a 
credit check on prospective applicants to ensure creditworthiness prior 
to extending credit services and to prepare billings. Also, the Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996, as amended (31 U.S.C. 3332), 
requires that agencies collect tax identification numbers from all 
persons doing business with the Government for purposes of collecting 
delinquent debts. Without a tax identification number, service cannot 
be provided on a credit basis.
    Also, requests for APHIS services are in writing, by telephone, or 
in person. The information contained in each request identifies the 
specific service requested and the time in which the requester wishes 
the service to be performed. This information is necessary in order for 
animal import centers and port offices to schedule the work and to 
calculate the fees due.
    Lastly, APHIS is responsible for ensuring that fees collected are 
correct and that they are remitted in full and in a timely manner. To 
ensure this, the party (ticketing agents for transportation companies) 
responsible for collecting and remitting fees must allow APHIS 
personnel to verify the accuracy of the fees collected and remitted, 
and otherwise determine compliance with the statute and regulations. We 
also require that whoever is responsible for making fee payments advise 
us of the name, address, and telephone number of a responsible officer 
who is authorized to verify fee calculations, collections, and 
remittances.
    This information collection was previously titled ``Credit Account 
Approval for Reimbursable Services.'' It now incorporates burden from 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 0579-0094, User 
Fee Regulations, and is retitled ``APHIS Credit and User Fee 
Accounts.''
    We are asking 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

[[Page 33080]]

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 0.063 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals and private and commercial importers or 
exporters of agricultural plants and animals or their products.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 6,980.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 200.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,395,559.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 88,025 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 27th day of May 2020.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-11738 Filed 5-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P