[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8793-8794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02814]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0003]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Environmental Monitoring

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 environmental monitoring.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0003 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-2023-0003, 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 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 environmental 
monitoring, contact Mr. Kai Caraher, Biological Scientist-Staff 
Officer, Permitting and Compliance Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2345; 
[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: Environmental Monitoring.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0117.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership in 
ensuring the health and care of animals and plants, improves 
agricultural productivity and competitiveness, and contributes to the 
national economy and the public health.
    APHIS is committed to accomplishing its mission in a manner that 
promotes and protects the integrity of the environment. This includes 
APHIS' compliance with all applicable environmental statutes and 
regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) the Council on 
Environmental Quality's NEPA-implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), (3) USDA's NEPA-implementing regulations (7 CFR part 1b), 
and (4) APHIS' NEPA-Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
    APHIS engages in environmental monitoring for certain activities 
that we conduct to control or eradicate certain pests and diseases. We 
monitor those activities that have the greatest potential for harm to 
the human environment to ensure that the mitigation measures developed 
to avoid that harm are enforced and effective. In many cases, 
monitoring is required where APHIS programs are conducted close to 
habitats of endangered and threatened species. This monitoring is 
developed in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior's 
Fish and Wildlife Service, in compliance with the Endangered Species 
Act (50 U.S.C. 17.11 and 17.12). APHIS field personnel and State 
cooperators jointly use an APHIS-provided environmental monitoring form 
to collect information concerning the effects of pesticide use in these 
sensitive areas. The goal of environmental monitoring is to track the 
potential impact that APHIS activities may have on the environment and 
to use this knowledge in making any necessary adjustments in future 
program actions.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity, 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 0.20 hours per response.
    Respondents: Growers, pesticide appliers, and State department of 
agriculture personnel.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 10.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 25.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 5 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 8794]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of February 2023.
Anthony Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-02814 Filed 2-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P