Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Fruits and Vegetables, 26360 [E8-10441]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 91 (Friday, May 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 26360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10441]



[[Page 26360]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0058]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Fruits and Vegetables

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with regulations for the importation of fruits 
and vegetables.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
8, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/
fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0058 to submit 
or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically.
    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your 
comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0058, 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-2008-0058.

    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 regulations for the 
importation of fruits and vegetables, contact Ms. Donna L. West, Senior 
Import Specialist, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
8758. 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: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0264.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 
et seq.) (PPA), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict 
the importation, entry, exportation, or movement in interstate commerce 
of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, 
means of conveyance, or other article if the Secretary determines that 
the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent a plant pest or 
noxious weed from being introduced into or disseminated within the 
United States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which administers regulations 
to implement the PPA.
    The regulations in Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables (7 CFR 319.56-1 
through 319.56-47) allow a number of fruits and vegetables to be 
imported into the United States, under specified conditions, from 
certain parts of the world. Importation of a variety of fruits and 
vegetables from Central America, South America, Belgium, China, the 
Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Jerusalem, Mexico, the Netherlands, and 
Trinidad and Tobago requires the use of certain information collection 
activities, including phytosanitary certificates, fruit fly monitoring 
records, and cooperative agreements.
    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 this information collection 
activity. These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for 
the proper performance of our agency's functions, 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
    (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 reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.2557172 hours per response.
    Respondents: Growers, shippers, and national plant protection 
organizations.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 15.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 32.06666.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 481.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 123 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 5th day of May 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-10441 Filed 5-8-08; 8:45 am]
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