80 FR 24892 - Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Domestic Quarantine Notices

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 84 (May 1, 2015)

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 the domestic quarantine regulations to prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases within the United States.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24892-24893]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10194]


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                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 84 / Friday, May 1, 2015 / Notices

[[Page 24892]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0013]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Domestic Quarantine Notices

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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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 the domestic quarantine regulations to 
prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases within the United 
States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0013.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0013, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-
0013 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the domestic 
quarantine regulations to prevent the spread of plant pests and 
diseases, contact Ms. Lynn Evans-Goldner, National Policy Manager, PHP, 
Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 160, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2286. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, 
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Domestic Quarantine Notices.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0088.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S. C. 
7701 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict 
the importation, entry, exportation, or movement in interstate commerce 
of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, 
means of conveyance, or other article to prevent a plant pest or 
noxious weed from being introduced into or disseminated within the 
United States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, which administers regulations to implement the PPA.
    APHIS regulations in 7 CFR part 301, ``Domestic Quarantine 
Notices,'' prohibit or restrict the interstate movement of certain 
articles from infested areas to noninfested areas to prevent the spread 
of plant pests. Federal and State quarantines are necessary to regulate 
the movement of articles from infested areas to noninfested areas. For 
example, if an area in the United States has been placed under 
quarantine due to the Asian longhorned beetle, then certain plant 
products (regulated articles) that are susceptible to the Asian 
longhorned beetle can be moved from the quarantined area only under 
certain conditions (i.e., after inspection and issuance of a 
certificate or limited permit). These measures help prevent the Asian 
longhorned beetle from spreading from the quarantined area to 
noninfested areas of the United States.
    Administering these regulations requires APHIS to collect 
information from a variety of individuals who are involved in growing, 
packing, handling, and transporting plants and plant products. The 
information serves as supporting documentation required for the 
issuance of forms and documents that authorize the movement of 
regulated plants and plant products and is vital to help prevent the 
spread of injurious plant pests within the United States. Collecting 
this information requires us to use a number of forms and documents, 
including certificates, limited permits, transit permits, and outdoor 
household article documents.
    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 0.31 hours per response.
    Respondents: State plant regulatory officials, State cooperators, 
and individuals involved in growing, packing, handling, and 
transporting plants and plant products.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 27,464.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 60.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,640,893.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 512,491 hours. (Due 
to averaging, the total annual burden hours

[[Page 24893]]

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 27th day of April 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-10194 Filed 4-30-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P