Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
Federal Register: February 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 31)
Notices
Page 8642-8643
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr14fe08-27
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
February 11, 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), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395-5806 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 (202) 720-8958.
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: Environmental Monitoring Form.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0117.
Summary of Collection: The mission of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) is to provide leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and plants, to improve the agricultural productivity and competitiveness, and to contribute to the national economy and the public health. The National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality, which implements the procedural aspects of NEPA
(40 CFR 1500-1508). APHIS' regulations require APHIS to implement environmental monitoring for certain activities conducted for pest and disease, control and eradication programs. APHIS Form 2060,
Environmental Monitoring Form, will be used to collect information concerning the effects of pesticide used in sensitive habitats.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information on the number of collected samples, description of the samples, the environmental conditions at the collection site including wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity of rainfall, and topography. The supporting information contained on the APHIS form 2060 is vital for interpreting the laboratory tests APHIS conducts on its collected samples. Failure to collect this information would prevent APHIS from actively monitoring the effects of pesticides in areas where the inappropriate use of these chemicals could eventually produce disastrous results for vulnerable habitats and species.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; individuals or households; farms.
Number of Respondents: 150.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,500.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Export Certification, Accreditation of Non-Government
Facilities.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0130.
Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United
States, as well as, the spread of pests not widely distributed in the
United States, and eradicating those imported when eradication is feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the
Page 8643
Federal Pest Act authorizes the Department to carry out this mission.
The regulations in 7 CFR Part 353 describes the procedures for obtaining certification for plants and plant products offered for export or re-export. APHIS 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 diseases and insect pests.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information for applications submitted by operator/owner of a non-government facility seeking accreditation to conduct laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection. The application should contain the legal name and full address of the facility, the name, address, telephone and fax numbers of the facility's operator, a description of the facility, and a description of the specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection services for which the facility is seeking accreditation. If these activities are not conducted properly, the APHIS export certification program would be compromised, causing a disruption in plant and plant product exports that could prove financially damaging to U.S. exporters.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
Number of Respondents: 15.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 300.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Importation of Tomatoes from France, Morocco, Western
Sahara, Chile, and Spain.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0131.
Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United
States, as well as the spread of pests not widely distributed and eradicating those imported when eradication is feasible. Regulations in 7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-8 prohibit or restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests, including fruit flies. These regulations allow tomatoes from Spain,
Chile, France, Morocco, and Western Sahara to be imported into the
United States (subject to certain conditions).
Need and Use of the Information: The Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) will collect information using the phytosanitary certificate certifying that the tomatoes were grown in registered greenhouses in a specified area of the exporting country.
APHIS uses the information on this certificate to determine the pest condition of the shipment at the time of inspection in the foreign country. If the information is not collected, APHIS' ability to protect the United States from exotic insect pests would be severely compromised.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
Number of Respondents: 34.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On Occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,704.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Black Stem Rust; Identification Requirements and Addition of
Rust-Resistant Varieties.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0186.
Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant products to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United
States or their dissemination within the United States. Black stem rust is one of the most destructive plant diseases of small grains that are known to exist in the United States. The disease is caused by a fungus that reduces the quality and yield of infected wheat, oat, barley, and rye crops by robbing host plants of food and water.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to prevent the spread of black stem rust by providing for and requiring the accurate identification of rust-resistant varieties by inspectors.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
Number of Respondents: 4.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 32.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
FR Doc. E8-2778 Filed 2-13-08; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
