E8-14505. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 23, 2008.

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: Domestic Quarantines.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0088.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772) 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. Plant Protection and Quarantine, a program within USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is responsible for implementing this Act and does so through the enforcement of its domestic quarantine regulations contained in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR Part 301. Administering these regulations often requires APHIS to collect information from a variety of individuals who are involved in growing, packing, handling, transporting, plants and plant products. The information collected from these individuals is vital to helping ensure that injurious plant diseases and insect pests do not spread within the United States. Information to be collected is necessary to determine compliance with domestic quarantines. Federal/State domestic quarantines are necessary to regulate the movement of articles from infested areas to noninfested area. Collecting information requires the use of a number of forms and documents. APHIS will collect information using various forms and documents.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information by interviewing growers and shippers at the time the inspections are being conducted and by having growers and shippers of exported plants and plant products complete an application for a transit permit. Information is collected from the growers, packers, shippers, and exporters of regulated articles to ensure that the articles, when moved from a quarantined area, do not harbor injurious plant diseases and insect pests. The information obtained will be used to determine compliance with regulations and for issuance of forms, permits, certificates, and other required documents.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farm; Individuals or households; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 194,085.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 134,486.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.