E9-20441. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 20, 2009.

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: Animal Welfare.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0093.

Summary of Collection: The Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (Pub. L. 89-544) enacted August 24, 1966, and amended December 24, 1970 (Pub. L. 91-579); April 22, 1976 (Pub. L. 94-279); and December 23, 1985 (Pub. L. 99-198) required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to regulate the humane care and handling of most warm-blooded animals, including marine mammals, used for research or exhibition purposes, sold as pets, or transported in commerce. The legislation and its amendments were the result of extensive demand by organized animal welfare groups and private citizens requesting a Federal law to protect such animals. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care (AC) has the responsibility to enforce the AWA and the provisions of 9 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, which implements the AWA.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to insure that animals used in research facilities or for exhibition purposes are provided humane care and treatment. The information is used to ensure those dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, carriers, etc., are in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and regulations and standards promulgated under this authority of the Act.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 11,687.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 47,815.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Importation of Tomatoes from Certain Central American Countries.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0286.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) allows certain types of tomatoes grown in approved registered production sites in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua to be imported into the United States with treatment. The conditions are designed to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, including trapping, pre-harvest inspection, and shipping procedures.

Need and Use of the Information: APHIS requires that each shipment of tomatoes must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the National Plant Protection Organization and bearing the declaration, “These tomatoes were grown in an area recognized to be free of Medfly and the shipment has been inspected and found free of the pest listed in the requirements.” Failure to collect this information would cripple APHIS' ability to ensure that peppers and tomatoes from Central America are not carrying fruit flies.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 24.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 287.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Title: Importation of Shelled Peas from Kenya .

OMB Control Number: 0579-0302.

Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) fruits and vegetables regulations allows the importation of shelled garden peas from Kenya into the continental United States while continuing to protect against the introduction of quarantined peas.

Need and Use of the Information: 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. APHIS uses the information on the certificate to determine the pest condition of the shipment at the time of inspection in the foreign country. 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: Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 2.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 8.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.