Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Bees and Related Articles, 28946-28947 [E7-9897]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 23, 2007 / Notices
Background
Section 375 of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C.
2008j, created the National Sheep
Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) to
strengthen the infrastructure of the
sheep and goat industry. The NSIIC
provided loans and grants for business
ventures where normal commercial
credit or funding was not available.
Section 375(j) of the Farm Bill
legislation required the privatization of
the NSIIC to occur on the earlier of its
receiving a certain level of Federal
funding or September 30, 2006. The
legislation required a transition plan, to
be approved by the Secretary of
Agriculture, that provides for a private
successor entity that would have the
same purposes and be able to continue
the activities of the NSIIC. The Secretary
of Agriculture has approved a
privatization plan that was triggered by
the September 30, 2006 deadline. The
NSIIC ceased operations on September
30, 2006. The American Sheep and Goat
Center became the successor private
organization on October 1, 2006. All
assets and liabilities of the NSIIC have
now been transferred to the private
American Sheep and Goat Center. The
transition plan is completed as of May
23, 2007.
Dated: May 16, 2007.
Douglas Faulkner,
Acting Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. E7–9932 Filed 5–22–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2007–0047]
Notice of Request for Extension of
Approval of an Information Collection;
Bees and Related Articles
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of approval of an
information collection; comment
request.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service’s intention to
request an extension of approval of an
information collection associated with
regulations for the importation of bees
and related articles.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before July 23,
2007.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov, select
‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service’’ from the agency drop-down
menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the
Docket ID column, select APHIS–2007–
0047 to submit or view public
comments and to view supporting and
related materials available
electronically. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions
for accessing documents, submitting
comments, and viewing the docket after
the close of the comment period, is
available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’
link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies)
to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0047,
Regulatory Analysis and Development,
PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD
20737–1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–
2007–0047.
Reading Room: You may read any
comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading
room 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) 690–2817 before
coming.
Other Information: Additional
information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on an information
collection associated with regulations
for the importation of bees and related
articles, contact Dr. Wayne Wehling,
Entomologist, Pest Permit Evaluations,
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734–8757.
For copies of more detailed information
on the information collection, contact
Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS’
Information Collection Coordinator, at
(301) 734–7477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Bees and Related Articles.
OMB Number: 0579–0207.
Type of Request: Extension of
approval of an information collection.
Abstract: Under the Honeybee Act (7
U.S.C. 281–286), the Secretary is
authorized to prohibit or restrict the
importation of honeybees and honeybee
semen to prevent the introduction into
the United States of diseases and
ADDRESSES:
18:32 May 22, 2007
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parasites harmful to honeybees and of
undesirable species such as the African
honeybee. This authority has been
delegated to the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Further, the Plant Protection Act
(PPA) (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes
the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit
or restrict the importation, entry, or
interstate movement of plants, plant
products, and other articles to prevent
the introduction of plant pests into the
United States or their dissemination
within the United States. As with the
Honeybee Act, APHIS has delegated
authority for the PPA.
The establishment of certain bee
diseases, parasites, or undesirable
species and subspecies of honeybees in
the United States could cause
substantial reductions in pollination by
bees. These reductions could cause
serious damage to crops and other
plants and result in substantial financial
losses to American agriculture.
Regulations for the importation of
honeybees and honeybee semen and
regulations to prevent the introduction
of exotic bee diseases and parasites
through the importation of bees other
than honeybees, certain beekeeping
products, and used beekeeping
equipment are contained in 7 CFR part
322, ‘‘Bees, Beekeeping Byproducts, and
Beekeeping Equipment.’’ These
regulations require the use of certain
information collection activities,
including: An application for permit,
appeals for denial of permit application
and cancellation of permit, request for
risk assessment, inspection report of
containment facilities, request for
release of containment, transit
documentation, export certificate, notice
of arrival, packaging and labeling, and
recordkeeping by containment facilities.
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
information collection, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
E:\FR\FM\23MYN1.SGM
23MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 23, 2007 / Notices
(4) Minimize the burden of the
information collection 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
reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average
2.4338 hours per response.
Respondents: Importers and shippers
of bees and related articles, foreign
governments, and containment
facilities.
Estimated annual number of
respondents : 869.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 869.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 2,115 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 17th day of
May 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7–9897 Filed 5–22–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2007–0060]
Emerald Ash Borer; Availability of an
Environmental Assessment
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We are advising the public
that an environmental assessment has
been prepared by the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service relative to the
release of three insect parasitoid species
for the biological control of the emerald
ash borer Agrilus planipennis. The
environmental assessment documents
our review and analysis of
environmental impacts associated with
the release of these biological control
agents. We are making this
environmental assessment available to
the public for review and comment.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:32 May 22, 2007
Jkt 211001
We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before June 22,
2007.
DATES:
You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov, select
‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service’’ from the agency drop-down
menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the
Docket ID column, select APHIS–2007–
0060 to submit or view public
comments and to view supporting and
related materials available
electronically. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions
for accessing documents, submitting
comments, and viewing the docket after
the close of the comment period, is
available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’
link.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies)
to Docket No. APHIS–2007–0060,
Regulatory Analysis and Development,
PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD
20737–1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–
2007–0060.
Reading Room: You may read any
comments that we receive on the
environmental assessment in our
reading room. The reading room 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) 690–2817 before
coming.
Other Information: Additional
information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Juli Gould, Entomologist, Otis Pest
Survey, Detection, and Exclusion
Laboratory, PPQ, APHIS, Building 1398,
Otis ANGB, MA 02542–5008; (508) 563–
9303 ext. 220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
Background
The emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus
planipennis) is a destructive
woodboring insect that attacks ash trees
(Fraxinus spp., including green ash,
white ash, black ash, and several
horticultural varieties of ash). The
insect, which is indigenous to Asia and
known to occur in China, Korea, Japan,
Mongolia, the Russian Far East, Taiwan,
and Canada, eventually kills healthy ash
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28947
trees after it bores beneath their bark
and disrupts their vascular tissues.
The EAB regulations in 7 CFR 301.53–
1 through 301.53–9 restrict the interstate
movement of regulated articles from
quarantined areas to prevent the
artificial spread of EAB into noninfested
areas of the United States. The States of
Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and portions
of the State of Michigan are currently
designated as quarantined areas. We are
also in the process of establishing a
quarantine in Prince George’s County,
MD.
Despite State and Federal quarantines
designed to contain EAB, the lack of
effective methods to detect EAB-infested
trees and the large area of EAB
infestation has resulted in a shift in
strategy by regulatory agencies from
area-wide eradication to eradication in
outlying areas and containment in the
core infestation area. In the United
States, EAB eradication efforts involve
the removal of all ash trees within a
specified radius around known
infestations. However, by the time an
infestation is discovered and treated,
EAB has usually already dispersed
outside the eradication zone. Besides
natural dispersal, the spread of EAB has
been accelerated through humanassisted movement of infested ash
firewood, timber, solid wood packing
materials, and nursery stock. As EAB
spreads throughout North America,
regulatory agencies, land managers, and
the public are seeking sustainable
management tools such as biological
control to reduce EAB population
densities and to slow its spread.
APHIS has completed an
environmental assessment that
examines the potential effects on the
quality of the human environment that
may be associated with the release of
three specific biological control agents
to control infestations of EAB within the
continental United States. APHIS and
the Forest Service propose to release the
three parasitoids into the environment
of the continental United States for the
purpose of reducing EAB populations.
These parasitoids are known to attack
EAB consistently in its native habitat in
China. Initial releases of each parasitoid
are planned for summer 2007. Postrelease monitoring of the spread and
establishment of each parasitoid species
and impacts on EAB and non-target
wood-boring beetles will also be
conducted.
APHIS’ review and analysis of the
potential environmental impacts
associated with this biological control
action are documented in detail in an
environmental assessment entitled
‘‘Proposed Release of Three Parasitoids
for the Biological Control of the Emerald
E:\FR\FM\23MYN1.SGM
23MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28946-28947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9897]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0047]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Bees and Related Articles
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
intention to request an extension of approval of an information
collection associated with regulations for the importation of bees and
related articles.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July
23, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov,
select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency
drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select
APHIS-2007-0047 to submit or view public comments and to view
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips''
link.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0047,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0047.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading room 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) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on an information
collection associated with regulations for the importation of bees and
related articles, contact Dr. Wayne Wehling, Entomologist, Pest Permit
Evaluations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737;
(301) 734-8757. For copies of more detailed information on the
information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS'
Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Bees and Related Articles.
OMB Number: 0579-0207.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Honeybee Act (7 U.S.C. 281-286), the Secretary
is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation of honeybees and
honeybee semen to prevent the introduction into the United States of
diseases and parasites harmful to honeybees and of undesirable species
such as the African honeybee. This authority has been delegated to the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Further, the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.)
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the
importation, entry, or interstate movement of plants, plant products,
and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the
United States or their dissemination within the United States. As with
the Honeybee Act, APHIS has delegated authority for the PPA.
The establishment of certain bee diseases, parasites, or
undesirable species and subspecies of honeybees in the United States
could cause substantial reductions in pollination by bees. These
reductions could cause serious damage to crops and other plants and
result in substantial financial losses to American agriculture.
Regulations for the importation of honeybees and honeybee semen and
regulations to prevent the introduction of exotic bee diseases and
parasites through the importation of bees other than honeybees, certain
beekeeping products, and used beekeeping equipment are contained in 7
CFR part 322, ``Bees, Beekeeping Byproducts, and Beekeeping
Equipment.'' These regulations require the use of certain information
collection activities, including: An application for permit, appeals
for denial of permit application and cancellation of permit, request
for risk assessment, inspection report of containment facilities,
request for release of containment, transit documentation, export
certificate, notice of arrival, packaging and labeling, and
recordkeeping by containment facilities.
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
information collection, including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
[[Page 28947]]
(4) Minimize the burden of the information collection 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 reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average 2.4338 hours per response.
Respondents: Importers and shippers of bees and related articles,
foreign governments, and containment facilities.
Estimated annual number of respondents : 869.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated annual number of responses: 869.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,115 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 17th day of May 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9897 Filed 5-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
