Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Importation of Peppers From the Republic of Korea

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Federal Register: August 27, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 167)

Notices

Page 50587

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr27au08-16

Notices

Federal Register

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.

Page 50587

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Docket No. APHIS-2008-0090

Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information

Collection; Importation of Peppers From the Republic of Korea

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 associated with regulations for the importation of peppers from the Republic of Korea.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before

October 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http:// www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0090 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.

Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0090, Regulatory Analysis and

Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,

Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to

Docket No. APHIS-2008-0090.

Reading Room: 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 (202) 690-2817 before coming.

Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on regulations for the importation of peppers from the Republic of Korea, contact Mr. Alex

Belano, Import Specialist, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations,

PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734- 8758. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection

Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Importation of Peppers From the Republic of Korea.

OMB Number: 0579-0282.

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

Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to restrict the importation, entry, or interstate movement of plants, plant products, and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United

States or their dissemination within the United States. Regulations authorized by the PPA concerning the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world are contained in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-47).

Under these regulations, peppers from the Republic of Korea are subject to certain conditions before entering the United States to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States. The regulations include requirements for greenhouse inspections by South

Korean national plant quarantine service (NPQS) officials and the use of a phytosanitary certificate with a declaration by NPQS officials stating the peppers were grown in accordance with the regulations in 7

CFR 319.56-42 and found free of certain plant pests.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 years.

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 0.5065 hours per response.

Respondents: South Korean national plant quarantine service officials and growers of peppers from South Korea.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 2.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 304.

Estimated annual number of responses: 608.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 308 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 21st day of August 2008.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

FR Doc. E8-19861 Filed 8-26-08; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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