2011-16817. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 29, 2011.

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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. 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 Fruits and Vegetables.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0128.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) (PPA), 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 not known to be widely distributed throughout the United States. The regulations in “Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables” (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-50), referred to as the regulations, all a number of fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States, under specified conditions, from certain parts of the world. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requires that some plants or plant products be accompanied by a phytosanitary inspection certificate that is completed by plant health officials in the originating or transiting country.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will use the collected information on the Phytosanitary Certificate to determine the pest condition of the shipment at the time of inspection in the foreign country. This information is used as a guide to the intensity of the inspection that APHIS must conduct when the shipment arrives. Without the information, all shipments would need to be inspected very thoroughly, thereby requiring considerably more time. This would slow the clearance of international shipments.

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

Number of Respondents: 135.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 200.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

Title: Importation of Hass Avocado from Michoacán Mexico.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0129.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 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) regulations allow fresh Hass Avocado fruit grown in approved orchards in Michoacan, Mexico to be imported into the United States under certain conditions.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information using form PPQ 587 “Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products,” to ensure that fresh Hass Avocados from Mexico do not harbor insect pests (including Avocado stem weevils, seed weevils, and seed moths). The information collected will ensure that fresh Hass Avocados from Mexico do not harbor exotic insect pests that, if introduced into the United States, could inflict severe damage upon U.S. agriculture.

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

Number of Respondents: 20,178.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 123,986.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer .