2017-27722. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 20, 2017.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding (1) 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) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments regarding this information collection received by December 26, 2017 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725—17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0104.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701— et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture 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 pest new to the United States or not widely distributed throughout the United States. The Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), a program within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is responsible for implementing the intent of this Act, and does so through the enforcement of its Domestic Quarantine Regulations contained in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 301. The European gypsy moth is one of the most destructive pests of fruit and ornamental trees as well as hardwood forests. The Asian gypsy moth is an exotic strain of gypsy moth that is closely related to the European variety already established in the U.S. Due to significant behavioral differences, this strain is considered to pose an even greater threat to trees and forested areas. In order 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.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information from the Specimens for Determination, PPQ Form 391, to identify and track specific specimens that are sent to the Otis Development Center for identification tests based on DNA analysis. This information collected is vital to APHIS' ability to monitor, detect, and eradicate gypsy moth infestations and the worksheet is completed only when traps are found to contain specimens.

Information on the worksheet includes the name of the submitter, the submitter's agency, the date collected, the trap number, the trap's location (including the nearest port of entry), the number of specimens in the trap, and the date the specimen was sent to the laboratory. APHIS will also use the Gypsy Moth Checklist and Record Your Self-Inspection, PPQ Form 377 to collect information on required inspection of outdoor household articles that are to be moved from a gypsy moth quarantined area to a non-quarantined area to ensure that they are free of all life stages of gypsy moth.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government; and Business.

Number of Respondents: 2,500,100.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 2,711,543.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Karnal Bunt; Revision of Regulations for Importing Wheat.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0240.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant pests to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or their dissemination within the United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), domestic Karnal bunt regulations are contained in Subpart-Karnal Bunt (7 CFR 301.89-1 through 301.89-16). Karnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat. Karnal bunt is caused by the smut fungus Tilletia indica (Mitra) Mundkur and is spread by spores, primarily through the movement of infected seed.

Need and Use of the Information: In order for APHIS to verify that the articles are being imported in compliance with the regulations, the articles would have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of the region of origin. The certificate must include a declaration stating that the regulated articles originated in areas where Karnal bunt is not known to occur, as attested to either by survey resulting or by testing for bunted karnals or spores.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 4.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 150.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.