Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Phytophthora Ramorum; Quarantine and Regulations, 58993-58994 [2013-23301]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58993-58994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23301]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0068]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Phytophthora Ramorum; Quarantine and Regulations

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 regulations for the interstate movement 
of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-013-0068-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0068, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-
0068 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations for 
the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of 
Phytophthora ramorum, contact Dr. Prakash K. Hebbar, National Policy 
Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
(301) 851-2228. 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: Phytophthora Ramorum; Quarantine and Regulations.
    OMB Number: 0579-0310.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to restrict the importation, 
entry, or interstate movement of plants, plant products, and other 
articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United 
States or their dissemination within the United States.
    In accordance with the regulations in ``Subpart-Phytophthora 
Ramorum'' (Sec. Sec.  301.92 through 301.92-12), the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) restricts the interstate movement of certain articles to prevent 
the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the plant pathogen that causes the 
disease commonly known as sudden oak death. The regulations contain 
requirements for the interstate movement of regulated articles, such as 
nursery stock and certain trees, from both quarantined and 
nonquarantined areas and involve information collection activities, 
including an USDA-APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 
Compliance Agreement (PPQ Form 519), issuance and cancellation of 
certificates, maintaining records of shipments, and records of 
fungicide applications.
    Since the last approval of these collection activities, there have 
been several changes to the P. ramorum program. APHIS no longer applies 
the P. ramorum regulatory requirements to the interstate movement of 
non-host nursery stock from certain nurseries located in the regulated 
areas of California,

[[Page 58994]]

Oregon, and Washington. We have also adjusted the number of record 
keepers of fungicide applications to more accurately reflect the number 
of nurseries. In addition, we have reduced the number of record keepers 
for incoming and outgoing shipments of plants to reflect the number of 
host nurseries and farms that record shipments. All of these changes 
have led to changes in our burden estimates. For instance, we have 
increased the estimate of burden from 0.31 to 1.097 hours per response 
and increased the estimated total annual burden on respondents from 
2,263 to 4,076 hours. We have also decreased the estimated annual 
number of responses and the estimated annual number of responses per 
respondent from 7,227 to 3,717 and 5.06 to 2.26, respectively. Lastly, 
we have increased the estimated annual number of respondents from 1,427 
to 1,644,
    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 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 1.097 hours per response.
    Respondents: Nurseries in California, Oregon, and Washington.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,644.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.26.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 3,717.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 4,076 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 19th day of September 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23301 Filed 9-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P