[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15369-15370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05084]


 ========================================================================
 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. 88, No. 48 / Monday, March 13, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 15369]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0021]


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

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 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 
(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 we receive on or before May 12, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0021 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-2023-0021, 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 the user fee 
activities covered by this notice, contact Mrs. 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; [email protected]. For information on the information 
collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork 
Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483; [email protected].

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, plants, animal products, birds, germplasm, organisms, and 
vectors. In addition, this section authorizes APHIS to collect user 
fees for certain activities and services it provides such as passenger 
clearance; veterinary diagnostics tests and reagent sales; issuing 
certificates and permits; conducting and monitoring inspections and 
treatments related to the import and export of agricultural products; 
granting commercial conveyance clearances; and charging overtime fees 
for activities conducted during nonduty hours. The establishment of 
credit accounts and the collection of user fees for certain 
reimbursable APHIS services requires various information collection 
activities, as described below.
    APHIS services may be requested in writing, electronically, by 
telephone, or in person, and must be specific about the specific 
service requested and the time it is to be performed. The services are 
typically provided by a Federal inspector, and the information is 
necessary to schedule the work and to calculate fees due. Normally, the 
services are provided 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. Certain recurring 
customers may request that APHIS bill them. These customers may apply 
for credit accounts with APHIS. The Agency collects certain information 
to conduct credit checks on prospective applicants to ensure 
creditworthiness prior to extending credit services and to prepare 
billings.
    APHIS is responsible for ensuring 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 
whoever is responsible for making fee payments to advise us of the 
name, address, and telephone number of a responsible officer who is 
authorized to verify fee calculations, collections, and remittances.
    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

[[Page 15370]]

is estimated to average 0.007 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: 144,209.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 96.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13,866,321.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 95,310 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 7th day of March 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-05084 Filed 3-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P