[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 165 (Monday, August 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48388-48389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18602]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0051]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Contract Pilot and Aircraft Acceptance

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the use of contract pilots and 
aircraft in APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine domestic, emergency, 
and biological control programs.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2021-0051 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2021-0051, 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 www.regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is 
located in Room 1620 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 contract pilot and 
aircraft acceptance, contact Dr. Richard Johnson, National Policy 
Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 851-2109. For more detailed information on the information 
collection reporting process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' 
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Contract Pilot and Aircraft Acceptance.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0298.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, either independently or in 
cooperation with States, to carry out operations or measures to detect, 
eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard the spread of plant 
pests and noxious weeds that are new to or not widely distributed 
within the United States. This authority has been delegated to the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
    As part of this mission, APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine 
(PPQ) program responds to introductions of plant pests with 
eradication, suppression, or containment through various programs in 
cooperation with State departments of agriculture and other government 
agencies. These programs may include the aerial application of 
treatments to control plant pests.
    APHIS contracts for these services, and prior to any aerial 
applications, requests certain information from the contractors and/or 
contract pilots to ensure that the work will be done according to 
specifications. Among other things, APHIS asks to see the aircraft 
registration, the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, the pilot's 
license, the pilot's medical certification, the pilot's proof of flight 
review, the pilot's pesticide applicator's license, and the aircraft 
logbook. Information from these documents and aircraft inspection 
results are consolidated by APHIS for signature by the APHIS official 
and the contractor or contract pilot, indicating acceptance of the 
pilot and aircraft for the job.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities 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 0.27 hours per response.
    Respondents: Contractors and/or contract pilots of aircraft.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 30.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 30.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 8 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.


[[Page 48389]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of August 2021.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18602 Filed 8-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P