2018-28023. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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 January 30, 2019 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 and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Importation of Citrus from Peru; Expansion of Citrus Growing Area.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0433.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et. seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture 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 known to be widely distributed throughout the United States. The regulations in “Subpart—Fruits and Vegetables” (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.81, referred to as the regulations), prohibit or restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world, to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests and plant diseases.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information using three forms and other information collection activities to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of fresh commercial citrus fruit from approved areas of Peru into the United States. If the information is not collected APHIS could not verify that fruit was treated, and verify that fruit flies, and other pest were destroyed by treatment, or that the treatment was adequate to prevent the risk of plant pests from entering the United States.

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

Number of Respondents: 66.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 1,361.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.