2023-03832. 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 April 25, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2023-0017 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents.

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2023-0017, 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 regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1620 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 interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, contact Mr. William Wesela, National Policy Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 137, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone]; [e-mail]. For information on the information collection reporting process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at [phone]; [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Phytophthora Ramorum; Quarantine and Regulations.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0310.

Type of Request: 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 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 X-Phytophthora Ramorum” (§§ 301.92 through 301.92-12), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture restricts the interstate movement of certain articles to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum ( P. 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 areas and regulated establishments and involve information collection activities including compliance agreements, annual inspections of nurseries and certification of nurseries, issuance and cancellation of certificates, sampling labels for testing, records of fungicide applications, recordkeeping of incoming and outgoing shipments of plants, notification of high risk P. ramorum genera, and emergency action notifications.

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 burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.3 hours per response.

Respondents: Plant growers, nursery operators, and State plant regulatory officials.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 60.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 14.

Estimated annual number of responses: 827.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 259 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 17th day of February 2023.

Anthony Shea,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.