Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Phytosanitary Export Certification, 66148-66149 [2019-26111]
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66148
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2019 / Notices
compliance with the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). USDA’s Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
permitted the releases after it completed
additional environmental risk analyses
and provided the public an opportunity
to comment on the documents.
In 2005, APHIS initiated a biological
control program for saltcedar defoliation
in the northern United States using the
tamarisk leaf beetle as the biological
control agent in limited locations
outside of the habitat of the
southwestern willow flycatcher (SWFL,
Empidonax traillii extimus). Greater
than anticipated natural dispersion and
intentional human-assisted movement
of the beetle into SWFL habitat caused
defoliation of saltcedar trees, hampering
the flycatcher’s nesting success.
After tamarisk leaf beetles were
discovered in SWFL habitat, APHIS
terminated its saltcedar biological
control program in 2010 and canceled
release permits because of concern
about the potential adverse effects on
SWFL. APHIS reinitiated consultation
with USFWS on these actions, in
compliance with section 7(a)(2) of the
ESA and 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2), and
USFWS concurred with APHIS’
determination that these actions were
not likely to adversely affect the SWFL.
On September 30, 2013, the Center for
Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit
against USDA, APHIS, ARS, the
Department of the Interior (DOI), and
USFWS alleging that the APHIS
saltcedar biological control program
violated the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the ESA. On
May 3, 2016, the Court granted the
plaintiff’s second of five claims, finding
that APHIS did not comply with the
ESA section 7(a)(1), which requires
Federal agencies to consult with DOI
and ‘‘utilize their authorities in
furtherance of the purposes of [the ESA]
by carrying out programs for the
conservation of endangered species and
threatened species listed pursuant to [16
U.S.C. 1533]’’ 16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(1). On
June 19, 2018, the Court ordered USDA
and APHIS to publish proposed
conservation program alternatives in
compliance with ESA section 7(a)(1),
solicit public comments on the
proposed alternatives, then publish a
draft environmental assessment (EA) for
public comment, and complete review
of all public comments, and issue final
decision and final EA, or an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
should it be appropriate.
On October 26, 2018, APHIS
published in the Federal Register (83
FR 54080–54082, Docket No. APHIS–
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:27 Dec 02, 2019
Jkt 250001
2018–0064) a notice 1 informing the
public of APHIS’ intent to conduct a
scoping process and prepare an EA. We
solicited comments for 30 days ending
on November 26, 2018. We received 23
comments by that date.
After taking into consideration the
comments that we received, on July 9,
2019, we published in the Federal
Register (84 FR 32701–32702, Docket
No. APHIS–2018–0064) a notice in
which we announced the availability,
for public review and comment, of an
EA that examined the environmental
effects of possible SWFL conservation
measures available to USDA and APHIS,
as well as a ‘‘no action’’ alternative.
We solicited comments on the EA for
30 days ending August 8, 2019. We
received 22 comments by that date. Four
commenters were supportive of the
preferred alternative in the EA without
further comment, and one expressed
general opposition to all APHIS
biocontrol efforts. Additionally, several
commenters asked for changes in
nomenclature or phrasing within the
draft EA in order to clarify its provisions
without changing its meaning; we have
incorporated the requested changes to
the extent possible within the final EA.
The remaining comments are addressed
in the final EA itself.
In this document, we are advising the
public of our finding of no significant
impact (FONSI) regarding our preferred
alternative for SWFL conservation
measures. The finding, which is based
on the EA, reflects our determination
that the preferred alternative will not
have significant impact on the quality of
the human environment.
The EA and FONSI may be viewed on
the Regulations.gov website (see
footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI
are also available for public inspection
at USDA, Room 1141, South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC, between 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays. Persons wishing to
inspect copies are requested to call
ahead on (202) 799–7039 to facilitate
entry into the reading room. In addition,
copies may be obtained by calling or
writing to the individual listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The EA and FONSI have been
prepared in accordance with: (1) NEPA,
as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); (2)
regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality for
1 To view the notice of intent and the comments
that we received on that document, or the
subsequent notice of availability of the
environmental assessment, its supporting
documents, and the comments that we received on
that document, go to https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0064.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); (3)
USDA regulations implementing NEPA
(7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of
November 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–26110 Filed 12–2–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2019–0075]
Notice of Request for Revision to and
Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Phytosanitary
Export Certification
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of
approval of an information collection
associated with the regulations for the
issuance of phytosanitary certificates for
plants or plant products being exported
to foreign countries.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before February 3,
2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0075.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2019–0075, 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-2019-0075 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
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\03DEN1.SGM
03DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2019 / Notices
help you, please call (202) 799–7039
before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on the regulations for
phytosanitary export certification for
plants and plant products being
exported to foreign countries, contact
Mr. Christian Dellis, Export Specialist
North America and U.S. Territories,
PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit
131, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–
2154. For more detailed information on
the information collection, contact Mr.
Joseph Moxey, APHIS’ Information
Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–
2483.
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Phytosanitary Export
Certification.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0052.
Type of Request: Revision to and
extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (7
U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes the
Secretary of Agriculture to certify as to
the freedom of plants, plant products, or
biological control organisms from plant
pests or noxious weeds, or the exposure
of plants, plant products, or biological
control organisms to plant pests or
noxious weeds, according to the
phytosanitary or other requirements of
the countries to which the plants, plant
products, or biological control
organisms may be exported.
The Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), among
other things, provides export
certification services to assure other
countries that the plants and plant
products they are receiving from the
United States are free of plant pests
specified by the receiving country. Our
regulations do not require that we
engage in export certification activities.
However, we perform this work as a
service to exporters who are shipping
plants or plant products to countries
that require phytosanitary certification
as a condition of entry.
The export certification regulations in
7 CFR part 353 describe the procedures
for obtaining certification for plants and
plant products offered for export or reexport. To request that we perform a
phytosanitary inspection, an exporter
must complete and submit an
Application for Inspection and
Certification of Plants and Plant
Products for Export.
After assessing the condition of the
plants or plant products intended for
export (i.e., after conducting a
phytosanitary inspection), an inspector
(who may be an APHIS employee or a
State or county plant regulatory official)
will issue an internationally recognized
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:27 Dec 02, 2019
Jkt 250001
phytosanitary certificate, a
phytosanitary certificate for re-export, or
an export certificate for processed plant
products. These forms are critical to our
ability to certify plants and plant
products for export. Without them, we
would be unable to conduct an export
certification program.
In addition, APHIS requires
information collection activities such as
the recordkeeping, a memorandum of
understanding for State inspectors,
request for APHIS to negotiate with
national plant protection organizations
for industry-issued certificates or
documentation, memorandum of
understanding with industry for
inspection and use of International
Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
Guidelines for Regulating Wood
Packaging Material in International
Trade (ISPM 15), and the application of
an ISPM 15 mark.
We are asking the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to
approve our use of these information
collection activities, as described, 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
0.0074 hours per response.
Respondents: State, local, and county
plant regulatory officials, U.S. growers,
shippers, and exporters.
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 9,101.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 6,155.3.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 56,019,465.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 412,985 hours. (Due to
averaging, the total annual burden hours
may not equal the product of the annual
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
66149
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 26th day of
November 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–26111 Filed 12–2–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[S–185–2019]
Approval of Subzone Status; Pueblo,
Inc.; Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
On September 19, 2019, the Executive
Secretary of the Foreign-Trade Zones
(FTZ) Board docketed an application
submitted by the Department of
Economic Development and Commerce,
grantee of FTZ 61, requesting subzone
status subject to the existing activation
limit of FTZ 61, on behalf of Pueblo,
Inc., in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
The application was processed in
accordance with the FTZ Act and
Regulations, including notice in the
Federal Register inviting public
comment (84 FR 50374, September 25,
2019). The FTZ staff examiner reviewed
the application and determined that it
meets the criteria for approval.
Pursuant to the authority delegated to
the FTZ Board Executive Secretary (15
CFR Sec. 400.36(f)), the application to
establish Subzone 61X was approved on
November 26, 2019, subject to the FTZ
Act and the Board’s regulations,
including Section 400.13, and further
subject to FTZ 61’s 1,821.07-acre
activation limit.
Dated: November 27, 2019.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–26154 Filed 12–2–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[B–72–2019]
Foreign-Trade Zone 122—Corpus
Christi, Texas; Application for Subzone
Cheniere Energy, Inc., Portland, Texas
An application has been submitted to
the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by
the Port of Corpus Christi Authority,
E:\FR\FM\03DEN1.SGM
03DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66148-66149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26111]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0075]
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Phytosanitary Export Certification
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection associated with the regulations for the issuance
of phytosanitary certificates for plants or plant products being
exported to foreign countries.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
February 3, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0075.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0075, 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-2019-
0075 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
[[Page 66149]]
help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations for
phytosanitary export certification for plants and plant products being
exported to foreign countries, contact Mr. Christian Dellis, Export
Specialist North America and U.S. Territories, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 131, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2154. For more
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mr. Joseph
Moxey, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Phytosanitary Export Certification.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0052.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.)
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to certify as to the freedom of
plants, plant products, or biological control organisms from plant
pests or noxious weeds, or the exposure of plants, plant products, or
biological control organisms to plant pests or noxious weeds, according
to the phytosanitary or other requirements of the countries to which
the plants, plant products, or biological control organisms may be
exported.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), among other
things, provides export certification services to assure other
countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving from
the United States are free of plant pests specified by the receiving
country. Our regulations do not require that we engage in export
certification activities. However, we perform this work as a service to
exporters who are shipping plants or plant products to countries that
require phytosanitary certification as a condition of entry.
The export certification regulations in 7 CFR part 353 describe the
procedures for obtaining certification for plants and plant products
offered for export or re-export. To request that we perform a
phytosanitary inspection, an exporter must complete and submit an
Application for Inspection and Certification of Plants and Plant
Products for Export.
After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary
inspection), an inspector (who may be an APHIS employee or a State or
county plant regulatory official) will issue an internationally
recognized phytosanitary certificate, a phytosanitary certificate for
re-export, or an export certificate for processed plant products. These
forms are critical to our ability to certify plants and plant products
for export. Without them, we would be unable to conduct an export
certification program.
In addition, APHIS requires information collection activities such
as the recordkeeping, a memorandum of understanding for State
inspectors, request for APHIS to negotiate with national plant
protection organizations for industry-issued certificates or
documentation, memorandum of understanding with industry for inspection
and use of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International
Trade (ISPM 15), and the application of an ISPM 15 mark.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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 0.0074 hours per response.
Respondents: State, local, and county plant regulatory officials,
U.S. growers, shippers, and exporters.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 9,101.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 6,155.3.
Estimated annual number of responses: 56,019,465.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 412,985 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 26th day of November 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26111 Filed 12-2-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
