97-8174. Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection and Request for Approval of a New Information Collection  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 1, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 15455-15456]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-8174]
    
    
          
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    Notices
                                                    Federal Register
    ________________________________________________________________________
    
    This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
    or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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    Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 62 / Tuesday, April 1, 1997 / 
    Notices
    
    [[Page 15455]]
    
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    [Docket No. 94-116-6]
    
    
    Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
    Information Collection and Request for Approval of a New Information 
    Collection
    
    AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    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 a currently approved information 
    collection and the approval of a new information collection in support 
    of a final rule that allows fresh Hass avocado fruit from Michoacan, 
    Mexico, to be imported into certain areas of the United States under 
    certain conditions.
    
    DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 2, 1997 to be 
    assured of consideration.
    
    ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of burden estimate, 
    ways to minimize the burden (such as the use of automated collection 
    techniques or other forms of information technology), or any other 
    aspect of this collection of information to: Docket No. 94-116-6, 
    Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River 
    Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please send an original and 
    three copies, and state that your comments refer to Docket 94-116-6. 
    Comments received may be inspected 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 comments are requested to call ahead on 
    (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the final 
    rule for Hass avocados from Michoacan, Mexico, contact Mr. Ronald 
    Campbell, Staff Officer, Port Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
    Unit 139, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-6799. For copies of more 
    detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Cathy 
    McDuffie, APHIS'' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-
    5190.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
        Title: Importation of Fresh Hass Avocado Fruit Grown in Michoacan, 
    Mexico.
        OMB Number: 0579-0049.
        Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 1997.
        Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
    collection; approval of a new information collection.
        Abstract: On February 5, 1997, the Animal and Plant Health 
    Inspection Service (APHIS) published a final rule in the Federal 
    Register (62 FR 5293-5315, Docket No. 94-116-5) amending 7 CFR 319.56 
    to allow fresh Hass avocado fruit from Michoacan, Mexico, to be 
    imported into certain areas of the United States under certain 
    conditions. Avocados destined for the United States must be grown only 
    in approved orchards in approved municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico. 
    The conditions to which the importation of fresh Hass avocado fruit 
    will be subject (including pest surveys and pest risk-reducing cultural 
    practices, packinghouse procedures, inspection and shipping procedures, 
    and restrictions on the time of year shipments may enter the United 
    States) will reduce, to an insignificant level, the risk that certain 
    exotic plant pests from Mexico will be introduced into the United 
    States.
        The implementation of this rule will require us to engage in 
    certain information collection activities. We are seeking Office of 
    Management and Budget (OMB) approval to employ these information 
    collection activities in connection with this program.
        Nine of the 10 information collections described below are 
    currently in use in other program areas and have received OMB approval 
    for use in those programs. The remaining collection, i.e., a sticker 
    identification system to be used in connection with Mexican avocado 
    imports, is a new information collection requirement.
        Application for Permit: A U.S. importer who wishes to import fresh 
    Hass avocado fruit to the United States must first apply for a permit 
    from APHIS. The permit specifies a set of conditions under which the 
    fruit can be brought into the United States.
        Trust Fund Agreement: Avocados can only be imported into the United 
    States after the Mexican Avocado Industry Association (which represents 
    the Mexican avocado growers, packers, and exporters) completes a trust 
    fund agreement with APHIS for that shipping season. In this document, 
    the Mexican Avocado Industry Association agrees to pay, in advance, for 
    all estimated costs that we expect to incur via our participation in 
    this program.
        Phytosanitary Certificate: Avocados from Michoacan, Mexico, will 
    require a phytosanitary inspection certificate completed by Mexican 
    plant health officials. This document certifies that the avocados 
    originated from an area free of certain agricultural pests.
        Sticker With Registration Numbers: Packinghouse personnel in Mexico 
    must label each avocado with a sticker that bears the registration 
    number of the packinghouse. This identification system will facilitate 
    any traceback investigations we may need to conduct.
        Marking Requirements: Avocados destined for the United States must 
    be packed in boxes and clearly marked by packinghouse personnel with 
    the identity of the grower, packinghouse, and exporter, and a statement 
    that the avocados may be distributed only in specific States within the 
    United States. This identification system will facilitate any traceback 
    investigations we may need to conduct and will also ensure that the 
    avocados are distributed only in those approved States listed in the 
    regulations.
        Annual Work Plan: The Mexican Ministry of Agriculture must provide 
    an annual work plan to us that details the activities and actions that 
    will be implemented in order to meet our requirements concerning the 
    exportation of fresh Hass avocado fruit to the United States.
        Pest Survey: Municipalities and orchards participating in this 
    program must be surveyed via visual inspection
    
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    and trapping for avocado pests and fruit flies by Mexican plant health 
    officials.
        Registration: Growers and packinghouse operators participating in 
    this program must register with the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture's 
    avocado export program. Registration ensures that participating 
    orchards and packinghouses are adhering to a specific set of APHIS 
    requirements.
        Infestation Information: If certain plant pests are detected in a 
    participating orchard, packinghouse, or municipality, the Mexican 
    Ministry of Agriculture must supply us with information concerning the 
    circumstances of the infestation and the pest risk mitigation measures 
    that are being implemented.
        Seals: Boxes of avocados must be placed in a refrigerated truck or 
    refrigerated container and remain there while in transit through Mexico 
    to the port of first arrival in the United States. Before leaving the 
    packinghouse, a representative from the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture 
    must secure the truck or container with a seal that must remain 
    unbroken until arriving in the United States.
        The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
    (as well as affected agencies) concerning these information collection 
    activities. We need this outside input to help us:
        (1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for 
    the proper performance of our agency's functions, including whether the 
    information will have practical utility;
        (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
    information collection, 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 information collection on those who 
    are to respond, through the use, as appropriate, of automated, 
    electronic, mechanical, or other collection technologies, e.g., 
    permitting electronic submission of responses.
        Estimate of burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
    information is estimated to average 0.0002 hours per response.
        Respondents: U.S. importers, growers and packinghouse operators in 
    Mexico, Mexican plant protection authorities.
        Estimated number of respondents: 157.
        Estimated number of responses per respondent: 51,130.
        Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,098.
        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 27th day of March 1997.
    Donald W. Luchsinger,
    Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    [FR Doc. 97-8174 Filed 3-31-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
04/01/1997
Department:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
97-8174
Dates:
Comments on this notice must be received by June 2, 1997 to be assured of consideration.
Pages:
15455-15456 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 94-116-6
PDF File:
97-8174.pdf