Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet, 18510-18511 [2011-7895]
Download as PDF
18510
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 76, No. 64
Monday, April 4, 2011
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–2010–0119]
Notice of Request for Extension of
Approval of an Information Collection;
Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of approval of an
information collection; comment
request.
AGENCY:
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
the gypsy moth program.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before June 3,
2011.
SUMMARY:
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=APHIS2010-0119 to submit or view comments
and to view supporting and related
materials available electronically.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send one copy of your comment
to Docket No. APHIS–2010–0119,
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–
2010–0119.
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
Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:47 Apr 01, 2011
Jkt 223001
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 gypsy moth program,
contact Mr. Paul Chaloux, National
Program Manager, Gypsy Moth Program,
Emergency and Domestic Programs,
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 137,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 734–
0917. 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: Gypsy Moth Identification
Worksheet.
OMB Number: 0579–0104.
Type of Request: Extension of
approval of an information collection.
Abstract: Under the Plant Protection
Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the United
States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), either independently or in
cooperation with the States, is
authorized to carry out operations or
measures to detect, eradicate, suppress,
control, prevent, or retard the spread of
plant pests new to the United States or
not widely distributed throughout the
United States. The Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
USDA, has delegated authority to carry
out this mission.
As part of the mission, Plant
Protection and Quarantine (PPQ),
APHIS, engages in detection surveys to
monitor for the presence of, among
other things, the European gypsy moth
and the Asian gypsy moth. The
European gypsy moth is one of the most
destructive pests of fruit and ornamental
trees as well as hardwood forests. First
introduced into the United States in
Medford, Massachusetts, in 1869, the
European gypsy moth has gradually
spread to infest the entire northeastern
portion of the country.
Heavily infested areas are inundated
with actively crawling larvae, which
cover trees, fences, vehicles, and houses
during their search for food. Entire areas
may be stripped of all foliage, often
resulting in heavy damage to trees. The
damage can have long-lasting effects,
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
depriving wildlife of food and shelter,
and severely limiting the recreational
value of forested areas.
The Asian gypsy moth is an exotic
strain of gypsy moth that is closely
related to the European variety already
established in the United States. While
the Asian gypsy moth has been
introduced into the United States on
several occasions, it is currently not
established in this country. Due to
behavioral differences, this strain is
considered to pose an even greater
threat to trees and forested areas.
Unlike the flightless European gypsy
moth female adult, the Asian gypsy
moth female adult is capable of strong
directed flight between mating and egg
deposition, significantly increasing its
ability to spread over a much greater
area and become widely established
within a short time. In addition, Asian
gypsy moth larvae feed on a much wider
variety of hosts, allowing them to
exploit more areas and cause more
damage than the European gypsy moth.
To determine the presence and extent
of a European gypsy moth or an Asian
gypsy moth infestation, APHIS sets
traps in high-risk areas to collect
specimens. Once an infestation is
identified, control and eradication work
(usually involving State cooperation) is
initiated to eliminate the moths.
APHIS personnel, with assistance
from State agriculture personnel, check
traps for the presence of gypsy moths.
If a suspicious moth is found in the trap,
it is sent to APHIS laboratories at the
Otis Methods Development Center in
Massachusetts so that it can be correctly
identified through DNA analysis. (Since
the European gypsy moth and the Asian
gypsy moth are strains of the same
species, they cannot be visually
distinguished from each other. DNA
analysis is the only way to accurately
identify these insects.)
The PPQ or State employee
submitting the moth for analysis
completes a gypsy moth identification
worksheet (PPQ Form 305), which
accompanies the insect to the
laboratory. The worksheet enables both
Federal and State regulatory officials to
identify and track specific specimens
through the DNA identification tests
that we conduct.
The information provided by the
gypsy moth identification worksheets is
vital to our ability to monitor, detect,
and eradicate gypsy moth infestations.
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 / Notices
Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
We are asking the Office of
Management and Budget (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 collection
of information, 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
0.1708333 hours per response.
Respondents: State cooperators.
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 120.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 2.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 240.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 41 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 29th day of
March 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–7895 Filed 4–1–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:47 Apr 01, 2011
Jkt 223001
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2009–0097]
Notice of Decision To Issue Permits for
the Importation of Fresh Figs From
Chile into the Continental United
States
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public of
our decision to begin issuing permits for
the importation into the continental
United States of fresh figs from Chile.
Based on the findings of a pest risk
analysis, which we made available to
the public for review and comment
through a previous notice, we believe
that the application of one or more
designated phytosanitary measures will
be sufficient to mitigate the risks of
introducing or disseminating plant pests
or noxious weeds via the importation of
fresh figs from Chile.
DATES: Effective Date: April 4, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Claudia Ferguson, Regulatory Policy
Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and
Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1231; (301) 734–0754.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart—
Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–1
through 319.56–50, referred to below as
the regulations), the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture
prohibits or restricts the importation of
fruits and vegetables into the United
States from certain parts of the world to
prevent plant pests from being
introduced into and spread within the
United States.
Section 319.56–4 of the regulations
contains a performance-based process
for approving the importation of
commodities that, based on the findings
of a pest risk analysis, can be safely
imported subject to one or more of the
designated phytosanitary measures
listed in paragraph (b) of that section.
Under that process, APHIS publishes a
notice in the Federal Register
announcing the availability of the pest
risk analysis that evaluates the risks
associated with the importation of a
particular fruit or vegetable. Following
the close of the 60-day comment period,
APHIS may begin issuing permits for
importation of the fruit or vegetable
subject to the identified designated
measures if: (1) No comments were
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
18511
received on the pest risk analysis; (2)
the comments on the pest risk analysis
revealed that no changes to the pest risk
analysis were necessary; or (3) changes
to the pest risk analysis were made in
response to public comments, but the
changes did not affect the overall
conclusions of the analysis and the
Administrator’s determination of risk.
In accordance with that process, we
published a notice 1 in the Federal
Register on February 9, 2010 (75 FR
6344–6345, Docket No. APHIS–2009–
0097), in which we announced the
availability, for review and comment, of
two pest risk analyses that evaluate the
risks associated with the importation
into the continental United States of
fresh figs, pomegranates, and baby kiwi
fruit from Chile. We solicited comments
on the notice for 60 days ending on
April 12, 2010. We received 25
comments by that date, from port
terminal operators, growers’
associations, trade associations, a
fumigation service, a State agriculture
department, a foreign government
agency, a foreign trade association, and
several produce importers, exporters,
and wholesalers. Most of the
commenters agreed that the mitigation
measures described in the pest risk
analysis would be adequate. However,
three commenters raised concerns about
the pest risk analyses or proposed
mitigation measures. The issues raised
by two of those commenters were
addressed in a notice of decision to
issue permits for the importation of
fresh pomegranates and baby kiwi from
Chile into the United States,2 published
in the Federal Register on May 12, 2010
(75 FR 26707–26708).
The third commenter raised several
concerns regarding the risks associated
with the importation of fresh figs from
Chile. In order to give ourselves
adequate time to explore the issues
raised by the commenter, we delayed
our decision on figs and addressed only
pomegranates and baby kiwi from Chile
in our May 2010 notice.
The commenter stated that fumigation
of fresh figs in the recommended
treatment may not kill eggs of the
insects of concern because eggs would
most likely be deposited in the tissues
of the fruit through the ostiole of the fig.
The commenter was concerned that the
treatment would not penetrate the fruit
and kill the pest.
While the commenter did not specify
a particular insect of concern, the pest
1 To view the February 2010 notice and the
comments we received, and the May 2010 notice,
go to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/
component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS2009-0097.
2 See footnote 1.
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18510-18511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7895]
========================================================================
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. 76, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2011 /
Notices
[[Page 18510]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0119]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet
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 the gypsy moth program.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June
3, 2011.
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-2010-0119 to submit or view comments and
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2010-0119, 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-2010-0119.
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 gypsy moth
program, contact Mr. Paul Chaloux, National Program Manager, Gypsy Moth
Program, Emergency and Domestic Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 137, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-0917. 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: Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet.
OMB Number: 0579-0104.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.),
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), either
independently or in cooperation with the States, is authorized to carry
out operations or measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control,
prevent, or retard the spread of plant pests new to the United States
or not widely distributed throughout the United States. The Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA, has delegated authority
to carry out this mission.
As part of the mission, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ),
APHIS, engages in detection surveys to monitor for the presence of,
among other things, the European gypsy moth and the Asian gypsy moth.
The European gypsy moth is one of the most destructive pests of fruit
and ornamental trees as well as hardwood forests. First introduced into
the United States in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1869, the European
gypsy moth has gradually spread to infest the entire northeastern
portion of the country.
Heavily infested areas are inundated with actively crawling larvae,
which cover trees, fences, vehicles, and houses during their search for
food. Entire areas may be stripped of all foliage, often resulting in
heavy damage to trees. The damage can have long-lasting effects,
depriving wildlife of food and shelter, and severely limiting the
recreational value of forested areas.
The Asian gypsy moth is an exotic strain of gypsy moth that is
closely related to the European variety already established in the
United States. While the Asian gypsy moth has been introduced into the
United States on several occasions, it is currently not established in
this country. Due to behavioral differences, this strain is considered
to pose an even greater threat to trees and forested areas.
Unlike the flightless European gypsy moth female adult, the Asian
gypsy moth female adult is capable of strong directed flight between
mating and egg deposition, significantly increasing its ability to
spread over a much greater area and become widely established within a
short time. In addition, Asian gypsy moth larvae feed on a much wider
variety of hosts, allowing them to exploit more areas and cause more
damage than the European gypsy moth.
To determine the presence and extent of a European gypsy moth or an
Asian gypsy moth infestation, APHIS sets traps in high-risk areas to
collect specimens. Once an infestation is identified, control and
eradication work (usually involving State cooperation) is initiated to
eliminate the moths.
APHIS personnel, with assistance from State agriculture personnel,
check traps for the presence of gypsy moths. If a suspicious moth is
found in the trap, it is sent to APHIS laboratories at the Otis Methods
Development Center in Massachusetts so that it can be correctly
identified through DNA analysis. (Since the European gypsy moth and the
Asian gypsy moth are strains of the same species, they cannot be
visually distinguished from each other. DNA analysis is the only way to
accurately identify these insects.)
The PPQ or State employee submitting the moth for analysis
completes a gypsy moth identification worksheet (PPQ Form 305), which
accompanies the insect to the laboratory. The worksheet enables both
Federal and State regulatory officials to identify and track specific
specimens through the DNA identification tests that we conduct.
The information provided by the gypsy moth identification
worksheets is vital to our ability to monitor, detect, and eradicate
gypsy moth infestations.
[[Page 18511]]
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (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
collection of information, 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 0.1708333 hours per response.
Respondents: State cooperators.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 120.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
Estimated annual number of responses: 240.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 41 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 29th day of March 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7895 Filed 4-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P