Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 8642-8643 [E8-2778]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8642-8643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2778]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 11, 2008.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Environmental Monitoring Form.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0117.
    Summary of Collection: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is to provide leadership in ensuring the 
health and care of animals and plants, to improve the agricultural 
productivity and competitiveness, and to contribute to the national 
economy and the public health. The National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the regulations of the Council on 
Environmental Quality, which implements the procedural aspects of NEPA 
(40 CFR 1500-1508). APHIS' regulations require APHIS to implement 
environmental monitoring for certain activities conducted for pest and 
disease, control and eradication programs. APHIS Form 2060, 
Environmental Monitoring Form, will be used to collect information 
concerning the effects of pesticide used in sensitive habitats.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information on 
the number of collected samples, description of the samples, the 
environmental conditions at the collection site including wind speed 
and direction, temperature, humidity of rainfall, and topography. The 
supporting information contained on the APHIS form 2060 is vital for 
interpreting the laboratory tests APHIS conducts on its collected 
samples. Failure to collect this information would prevent APHIS from 
actively monitoring the effects of pesticides in areas where the 
inappropriate use of these chemicals could eventually produce 
disastrous results for vulnerable habitats and species.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; 
individuals or households; farms.
    Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,500.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Export Certification, Accreditation of Non-Government 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0130.
    Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture is responsible 
for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United 
States, as well as, the spread of pests not widely distributed in the 
United States, and eradicating those imported when eradication is 
feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the

[[Page 8643]]

Federal Pest Act authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. 
The regulations in 7 CFR Part 353 describes the procedures for 
obtaining certification for plants and plant products offered for 
export or re-export. APHIS provides export certification services to 
assure other countries that the plants and plant products they are 
receiving from the United States are free of plant diseases and insect 
pests.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information for 
applications submitted by operator/owner of a non-government facility 
seeking accreditation to conduct laboratory testing or phytosanitary 
inspection. The application should contain the legal name and full 
address of the facility, the name, address, telephone and fax numbers 
of the facility's operator, a description of the facility, and a 
description of the specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary 
inspection services for which the facility is seeking accreditation. If 
these activities are not conducted properly, the APHIS export 
certification program would be compromised, causing a disruption in 
plant and plant product exports that could prove financially damaging 
to U.S. exporters.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 300.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Tomatoes from France, Morocco, Western 
Sahara, Chile, and Spain.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0131.
    Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture is responsible 
for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United 
States, as well as the spread of pests not widely distributed and 
eradicating those imported when eradication is feasible. Regulations in 
7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-8 prohibit or restrict the importation of 
fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the 
world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests, 
including fruit flies. These regulations allow tomatoes from Spain, 
Chile, France, Morocco, and Western Sahara to be imported into the 
United States (subject to certain conditions).
    Need and Use of the Information: The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) will collect information using the 
phytosanitary certificate certifying that the tomatoes were grown in 
registered greenhouses in a specified area of the exporting country. 
APHIS uses the information on this certificate to determine the pest 
condition of the shipment at the time of inspection in the foreign 
country. If the information is not collected, APHIS' ability to protect 
the United States from exotic insect pests would be severely 
compromised.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 34.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,704.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Black Stem Rust; Identification Requirements and Addition of 
Rust-Resistant Varieties.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0186.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 
7701-772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant 
products to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United 
States or their dissemination within the United States. Black stem rust 
is one of the most destructive plant diseases of small grains that are 
known to exist in the United States. The disease is caused by a fungus 
that reduces the quality and yield of infected wheat, oat, barley, and 
rye crops by robbing host plants of food and water.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
prevent the spread of black stem rust by providing for and requiring 
the accurate identification of rust-resistant varieties by inspectors.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 4.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 32.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-2778 Filed 2-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P