Federal Register: December 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 244)
DOCID: FR Doc 04-27880
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket ID: [Docket No. 04-123-1]
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 22, 2005.
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 associated with regulations for the importation of fruits and vegetables.
SUMMARY:
Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Title: Importation of Fruits and Vegetables.
OMB Number: 05790136.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.
Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 77017772) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the importation of plants, plant products, and other articles into the United States to prevent the introduction of plant pests and noxious weeds.
The regulations in SubpartFruits and Vegetables (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.568) authorize a number of fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States, under specified conditions, from certain parts of the world. These fruits and vegetables include cole and mustard crops from Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Peru; rhubarb from Guatemala; parsley from Israel and Nicaragua; salicornia from Mexico; mint and rosemary from Nicaragua; Swiss chard from Peru; cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and watermelon from Brazil and Venezuela; Belgian endive, chicory, and endive from Panama; pineapple from South Africa; and peppers from Spain.
Before entering the United States, all of these fruits and vegetables are subject to inspection and disinfection at their port of first arrival to ensure that no plant pests are inadvertently brought into the United States. These precautions, along with other requirements, help ensure that these commodities do not introduce exotic plant pests, such as fruit flies, into the United States.
The regulations require the use of certain information collection activities, including the completion of import permits, phytosanitary inspection certificates, and fruit fly monitoring records.
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 information collection, including the
[[Page 76448]]
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 0.7322 hours per response.
Respondents: U.S. importers of fruits and vegetables and plant health officials of exporting countries.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 822.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.2311.
Estimated annual number of responses: 1,834.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,343 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 14th day of December, 2004. Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 0427880 Filed 122004; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341034P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
For information on regulations associated with the importation of fruits and vegetables, contact Ms. Jeanne Van Dersal, Senior Import Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale MD 20737; (301) 7346653. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 7347477.