Federal Register: December 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 234)
DOCID: FR Doc 03-30234
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket ID: [Docket No. 03-095-1]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCUMENT ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 3, 2004.
DOCUMENT 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 for importation of seed and screenings.
SUMMARY:
Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Title: Imported Seed and Screenings.
OMB Number: 05790124.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.
Abstract: Under the authority of the Federal Seed Act (FSA) of 1939, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1551 et seq.), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the importation and interstate movement of certain agricultural and vegetable seeds and screenings. Title III of the FSA, ``Foreign Commerce,'' requires shipments of imported agricultural and vegetable seeds to be labeled correctly and to be tested for the presence of the seeds of certain noxious weeds as a condition of entry into the United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's regulations implementing the provisions of title III of the FSA are found in 7 CFR part 361.
The regulations require the use of a number of information collection activities, including declaration of importation, container labeling, notification of seed location, a seed return request, seed analysis certificates, seed identity maintenance, and associated recordkeeping.
We are asking 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
information collection, 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 information collection 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 0.37816 hours per response.
Respondents: Importers of seed and screenings, seed cleaning/
processing facility personnel, officials of the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA), and private seed laboratories accredited by CFIA.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,200.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 25.
Estimated annual number of responses: 30,000.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 11,345 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 2nd day of December, 2003. Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 0330234 Filed 12403; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341034P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
For information regarding regulations for importation of seed and screenings, contact Ms. Polly Lehtonen, Botanist, Biological and Technical Services, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 207371236; (301) 7344394. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 7347477.