Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Lacey Act Declaration Requirement; Plants and Plant Products, 259-260 [E8-31369]

Download as PDF 259 Notices Federal Register Vol. 74, No. 2 Monday, January 5, 2009 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. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2008–0136] Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Lacey Act Declaration Requirement; Plants and Plant Products 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 required by the Lacey Act for the importation of certain plants and plant products. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 6, 2009. 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– 2008–0136 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–2008–0136, 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– 2008–0136. 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 ADDRESSES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:05 Jan 02, 2009 Jkt 217001 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 the Lacey Act declaration requirement, contact Mr. Alex Belano, Assistant Branch Chief, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734–8758. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS’ Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–2908. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Lacey Act Declaration Requirement; Plants and Plant Products. OMB Number: 0579–0349. Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection. Abstract: The Food, Conversation, and Energy Act of 2008, effective May 22, 2008, amended the Lacey Act (the Act) by expanding its protection to a broader range of plants and plant products (Section 8204, Prevention of Illegal Logging Practices). The Lacey Act, as amended, makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any plant, with some limited exceptions, taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of the laws of the United States, a State, an Indian tribe, or any foreign law that protects plants. The 2008 amendment to the Act also makes it unlawful to make or submit any false record, account or label for, or any false identification of, any plant covered by the Act. In addition, beginning December 15, 2008, section 3 of the Act makes it unlawful to import certain plants and plant products without an import declaration, The declaration must contain, among other things, the scientific name of the plant, value of the importation, quantity of the plant, and name of the country from which the plant was harvested. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is part of an PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 interagency group working to implement the new provisions. That group includes representatives from APHIS, U.S. Forest Service, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Council on Environmental Quality, and Department of Commerce. In a notice published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2008 (73 FR 58925–58927), APHIS stated that it was seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect information that the Lacey Act requires importers to include in the declaration and that is not already being collected for other purposes, as well as approval of a paper form that may be used for declarations. APHIS received emergency approval from OMB that allowed us to make the form available to importers and brokers who wish to voluntarily submit the declaration beginning December 15. The form, PPQ Form 505 (Plant and Plant Product Declaration Form), is available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ plant_health/lacey_act/downloads/ declarationform.pdf. We are asking OMB to approve our use of this information collection activity 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 (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 1.5 hours per response. E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1 260 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 2009 / Notices Respondents: Importers of certain plants and plant products. Estimated annual number of respondents: 279,398. Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 12. Estimated annual number of responses: 3,352,776. Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 5,029,164 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 23rd day of December 2008. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E8–31369 Filed 1–2–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2008–0144] Notice of Intent To Destroy Outdated Hog Cholera Vaccine Seed Stock AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. production, vaccine manufacturers and farmer cooperatives involved in vaccine production and distribution were required to surrender vaccine seed stocks and remaining product inventory to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for safekeeping. This material has remained securely stored at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, IA, since that time. All of this material is now outdated, and the most recent inventory of the stored product revealed a significant deterioration of packaging and labeling that makes accurate identification of the virus stocks difficult, and raises additional concerns regarding whether such material can continue to be safely stored given the deteriorating condition of its packaging. Thus, we are advising interested parties that, unless substantial issues are raised in response to this notice, APHIS intends to destroy all remaining seed stocks and other material collected from producers/ cooperators in response to the ban on hog cholera vaccine and serum production following the close of the comment period for this notice (see DATES above). The destruction of those materials will be accomplished by autoclaving and/or incineration on site at NVSL. Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of December 2008. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E8–31370 Filed 1–2–09; 8:45 am] conservation practices related to animal agriculture. DATES: Comments will be received for a 30-day period commencing with the date of this publication. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquire in writing to John A. Bricker, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209, Richmond, Virginia 23229–5014; Telephone number (804) 287–1691; Fax number (804) 287–1737. Copies of the practice standards will be made available upon written request to the address shown above or on the Virginia NRCS Web site: https://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ draftstandards.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 343 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 states that revisions made after enactment of the law to NRCS State technical guides used to carry out highly erodible land and wetland provisions of the law shall be made available for public review and comment. For the next 30 days, the NRCS in Virginia will receive comments relative to the proposed changes. Following that period, a determination will be made by the NRCS in Virginia regarding disposition of those comments and a final determination of change will be made to the subject standards. Dated: December 8, 2008. Patricia J. Bragg, Acting State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Richmond, Virginia. [FR Doc. E8–31256 Filed 1–2–09; 8:45 am] SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to destroy outdated seed virus and other materials previously used to prepare hog cholera vaccine and antiserum. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 4, 2009. ADDRESSES: You may send your comments to USDA, APHIS, VS, Center for Veterinary Biologics, Policy Evaluation and Licensing, 510 South 17th Street, Suite 104, Ames, IA 50010; Attention: Ms. Chelsea J. Bare. You may also e-mail your comments to Chelsea.J.Bare@aphis.usda.gov. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture. ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the Virginia NRCS State Technical Guide for review and comment. AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Proposed additions to and deletions from Procurement List. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Albert P. Morgan, Section Leader, Operational Support Section, Center for Veterinary Biologics, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 148, Riverdale, MD; phone (301) 734– 8245, fax (301) 734–4314. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preparation of hog cholera vaccine was banned in the United States in 1969. Concurrent with the ban on vaccine SUMMARY: It has been determined by the NRCS State Conservationist for Virginia that changes must be made in the NRCS State Technical Guide specifically in practice standards: #316, Animal Mortality Facility; #317, Composting Facility; #591, Amendments for Treatment of Agricultural Waste; #629, Waste Treatment; and #632, Solid Liquid Waste Separation Facility. These practices will be used to plan and install SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and to delete products previously furnished by such agencies. Comments Must be Received on or Before: February 1, 2009. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:05 Jan 02, 2009 Jkt 217001 BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service Notice of Proposed Change to Section IV of the Virginia State Technical Guide AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 BILLING CODE 3410–16–P COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List: Proposed Additions and Deletions E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM 05JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 259-260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31369]


========================================================================
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. 74, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 2009 / 
Notices

[[Page 259]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0136]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Lacey Act Declaration Requirement; Plants and Plant 
Products

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 required by the Lacey Act for the importation of certain 
plants and plant products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
6, 2009.

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-2008-0136 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-2008-0136, 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-2008-0136.
    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 the Lacey Act 
declaration requirement, contact Mr. Alex Belano, Assistant Branch 
Chief, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-8758. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. 
Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Lacey Act Declaration Requirement; Plants and Plant 
Products.
    OMB Number: 0579-0349.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Food, Conversation, and Energy Act of 2008, effective 
May 22, 2008, amended the Lacey Act (the Act) by expanding its 
protection to a broader range of plants and plant products (Section 
8204, Prevention of Illegal Logging Practices). The Lacey Act, as 
amended, makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, 
acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any plant, with 
some limited exceptions, taken, possessed, transported or sold in 
violation of the laws of the United States, a State, an Indian tribe, 
or any foreign law that protects plants. The 2008 amendment to the Act 
also makes it unlawful to make or submit any false record, account or 
label for, or any false identification of, any plant covered by the 
Act.
    In addition, beginning December 15, 2008, section 3 of the Act 
makes it unlawful to import certain plants and plant products without 
an import declaration, The declaration must contain, among other 
things, the scientific name of the plant, value of the importation, 
quantity of the plant, and name of the country from which the plant was 
harvested.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is part of an interagency group working to 
implement the new provisions. That group includes representatives from 
APHIS, U.S. Forest Service, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Trade 
Representative, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Council on Environmental Quality, and 
Department of Commerce.
    In a notice published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2008 
(73 FR 58925-58927), APHIS stated that it was seeking approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect information that the 
Lacey Act requires importers to include in the declaration and that is 
not already being collected for other purposes, as well as approval of 
a paper form that may be used for declarations. APHIS received 
emergency approval from OMB that allowed us to make the form available 
to importers and brokers who wish to voluntarily submit the declaration 
beginning December 15. The form, PPQ Form 505 (Plant and Plant Product 
Declaration Form), is available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_
health/lacey_act/downloads/declarationform.pdf.
    We are asking OMB to approve our use of this information collection 
activity 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
    (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 1.5 hours per response.

[[Page 260]]

    Respondents: Importers of certain plants and plant products.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 279,398.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 12.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,352,776.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 5,029,164 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 23rd day of December 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-31369 Filed 1-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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