2014-11230. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 12, 2014.

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 regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) 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 June 16, 2014 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 and Health Inspection Service

Title: Export Certification, Accreditation of Non-Government Facilities.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0130.

Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United States, as well as, the spread of pests not widely distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported when eradication is feasible. The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et. seq.), authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. In addition to its mission, APHIS provides export certification services to ensure other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving from the United States are free of plant diseases and insect pests.

Need and Use of the Information: The accreditation process requires the use of several information activities to ensure that nongovernment facilities applying for accreditation processes the necessary qualifications. APHIS will collect information for applications submitted by operator/owner of a non-government facility seeking accreditation to conduct laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection. The application should contain the legal name and full address of the facility, the name, address, telephone and fax numbers of the facility's operator, a description of the facility, and a description of the specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection services for which the facility is seeking accreditation. If these activities are not conducted properly, APHIS export certification program would be compromised, causing a disruption in plant and plant product exports that could prove financially damaging to U.S. exporters.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; State, Local and Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 9.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 199.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Importation of Fresh Baby Kiwi from Chili Under a Systems Approach.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0374.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), 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 “Subpart-Fruit and Vegetables” (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-58), 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 that are not widely distributed within the United States. The regulations allow fresh baby kiwi fruit from Chile to be imported into the continental United States subject to a system approach. The action is necessary in order to provide an alternative mitigation measure other than fumigation with methyl bromide.

Need and Use of the Information: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will use the following activities to collect information: Phytosanitary Certificate, Production Site Registration, and Labeling of Field Cartons or Containers.

If the information is not collected, APHIS' ability to protect the United States from exotic insect pest would be severely compromised.

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

Number of Respondents: 8.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 92.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.