01-24055. Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

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 in support of regulations regarding the issuance of phytosanitary certificates for plants or plant products being shipped to foreign countries.

DATES:

We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all comments that we receive by November 26, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket No. 01-070-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 01-070-1.

You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 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.

APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/​ppd/​rad/​webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information regarding phytosanitary export certification, contact Mrs. Parul Patel, Senior Export Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, [phone]. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Phytosanitary Export Certification.

OMB Number: 0579-0052.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), among other things, provides export certification services to assure other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving from the United States are free of plant pests specified by the receiving country.

It should be noted that our regulations do not require that we engage in export certification activities. We perform this work as a service to exporters who are shipping plants or plant products to countries that require phytosanitary certification as a condition of entry.

To request that we perform a phytosanitary inspection, an exporter must complete and submit an Application for Phytosanitary Inspection and Certification (PPQ Form 572).

After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary inspection), an inspector (who may be an APHIS employee or a State or county plant regulatory official) will issue an internationally recognized phytosanitary certificate (PPQ Form 557), a phytosanitary certificate for reexport (PPQ Form 579), or an export certificate for processed plant products (PPQ Form 578).

These forms are critical to our ability to certify plants and plant products for export. Without them, we would be unable to conduct an export certification program.

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 reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.7095995 hours per response.

Respondents: U.S. growers, shippers, and exporters; State and county plant health protection authorities.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 14,375.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 52.869.

Estimated annual number of responses: 759,992.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 539,290 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 20th day of September 2001.

Bobby R. Acord,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.