80 FR 31568 - Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Special Need Requests Under the Plant Protection Act

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 106 (June 3, 2015)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations to allow States to impose prohibitions or restrictions on specific articles in addition to those required by APHIS to help protect against the introduction and establishment of plant pests.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 31568]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13371]


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 31568]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0039]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Special Need Requests Under the Plant Protection Act

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 intention of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) to request an extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the regulations to allow States 
to impose prohibitions or restrictions on specific articles in addition 
to those required by APHIS to help protect against the introduction and 
establishment of plant pests.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 3, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0039.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0039, 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-
0039 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 special need 
requests under the Plant Protection Act, contact Mr. Jonathan Jones, 
National Policy Manager, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 137, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2128. 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: Special Need Requests Under the Plant Protection Act.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0291.
    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. 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. Regulations governing the interstate 
movement of plants, plant products, and other articles are contained in 
7 CFR part 301, ``Domestic Quarantine Notices.''
    The regulations in ``Subpart-Preemption and Special Need Requests'' 
allow States or political subdivisions of States to request approval 
from APHIS to impose prohibitions or restrictions on the movement in 
interstate commerce of specific articles that pose a plant health risk 
that are in addition to the prohibitions and restrictions imposed by 
APHIS. This process requires information collection activities, 
including a pest data detection survey with a pest risk analysis 
showing that a pest is not present in a State, or, if already present, 
the current distribution in the State, and that the pest would harm or 
injure the environment and/or agricultural resources of the State or 
political subdivision.
    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 160 hours per response.
    Respondents: State governments.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 160 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 27th day of May 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13371 Filed 6-2-15; 8:45 am]
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