2013-01019. Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Fruit From Thailand into the United States

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 importation of fruit from Thailand.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 19, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/​#!documentDetail;​D=​APHIS-2012-0101-0001.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2012-0101, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​APHIS-2012-0101 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 [phone] before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information on the regulations for the importation of fruit from Thailand into the United States, contact Mr. Andrew Wilds, Trade Director, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 140, Riverdale MD 20737; [phone]. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Importation of fruit from Thailand into the United States.

OMB Number: 0579-0308.

Type of Request: Revision to and 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. As authorized by the PPA, APHIS regulates the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world as provided in “Subpart—Fruits and Vegetables” (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-56).

In accordance with § 319.56-47, litchi, longan, mango, mangosteen, pineapple, and rambutan from Thailand may be imported into the United States under certain conditions to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States. These conditions involve the use of information collection activities, including production area registration, phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration statement, and labeling.

Shipments of litchi, longan, mango, mangosteen, pineapple, and rambutan must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the fruit have been treated with irradiation in Thailand in accordance with the regulations, and in the case of litchi, that the fruit have been inspected and found to be free of Peronophythora litchi. In addition, cartons in which litchi and longans are packed must be stamped to indicate that the fruit must not be imported into or distributed in Florida.

The information collection activities of a phytosanitary certificate and labeling were approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control number 0579-0308. However, when comparing the regulations with the information collection activities, we found that the registration of production areas was omitted from previous information collections. This has resulted in a change of the estimated total annual burden from 78 hours to 398 hours.

We are asking 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 0.41458 hours per response.

Respondents: Importers of fruit from Thailand and the national plant protection organization of Thailand.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 10.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 96.

Estimated annual number of responses: 960.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 398 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 14th day of January 2013.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.