Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; APHIS Ag-Discovery Program, 10221 [E9-5033]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 10221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5033]



[[Page 10221]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0139]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
APHIS Ag-Discovery Program

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New 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 approval of an information collection associated 
with the Ag-Discovery Program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
11, 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-2008-0139 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-2008-0139, 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-2008-0139.
    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 APHIS Ag-
Discovery Program, contact Mr. Ken Johnson, Special Programs 
Consultant, CREC, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 92, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 734-5353. 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: APHIS Ag-Discovery Program.
    OMB Number: 0579-xxxx.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
established ``Ag-Discovery,'' a nationwide outreach program, to help 
students learn about careers in agriculture. The 2-3 week summer 
boarding program targets students 12-17 years old who are interested in 
learning more about agricultural science. To date, the APHIS Ag-
Discovery program is hosted on six university campuses and is designed 
to create awareness about agriculture, the mission of APHIS, and 
careers in APHIS programs. Students learn about agricultural science 
from university professors, plant and animal health professionals, and 
wildlife biologists and participate in a variety of activities, such as 
hands-on labs, workshops, and field trips.
    The Ag-Discovery outreach program requires the use of information 
collection activities, including a student application, essays, and 
letters of reference.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for 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 6 hours per response.
    Respondents: Full-time students (12-17 years of age).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 210.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 630.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,780 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 4th day of March 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-5033 Filed 3-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P