[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57168-57169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20199]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2022-0052]


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, Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

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 
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 
November 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2022-0052 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-2022-0052, 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

[[Page 57169]]

may be viewed at 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 regarding the 
regulations for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment of 
imported fruits and vegetables, contact Mr. David Begley, National 
Policy Manager for Treatments, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Room 4D-
04B, Riverdale, MD 20737; (470) 426-2412; [email protected]. For 
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: 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, diseases, and noxious weeds into the United States.
    Regulations governing the importation of fruits and vegetables are 
set out in 7 CFR part 319. In accordance with the regulations, some 
fruits and vegetables from certain regions of the world must be treated 
for insect pests in order to be eligible for entry into the United 
States.
    The regulations in 7 CFR part 305, among other things, provide for 
the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for some fruits and 
vegetables imported into the United States. Irradiation provides 
protection against all insect pests, including fruit flies, the mango 
seed weevil, and others. 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 involve the collection of 
information, such as a compliance agreement, operational work plans 
(cooperative agreements), 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, 
and denial and withdrawal of certification.
    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 0.001 hours per response.
    Respondents: National plant protection organizations of exporting 
countries, irradiation facility operators, and U.S. importers of fruits 
and vegetables.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 86.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 71,334.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 6,134,715.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 6,902 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 14th day of September 2022.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-20199 Filed 9-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P