81 FR 12682 - Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Fresh Bananas From the Philippines Into the Continental United States

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 47 (March 10, 2016)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the importation of fresh bananas from the Philippines into the continental United States.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12682-12683]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05464]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0001]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Fresh Bananas From the 
Philippines Into the Continental United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the regulations for the 
importation of fresh bananas from the Philippines into the continental 
United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0001, 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-2016-
0001 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 regulations for 
the importation of fresh bananas from the Philippines into the 
continental United States, contact Mr. Marc Philips, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, RCC, IRM, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2114. 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: Importation of Fresh Bananas From the Philippines Into the 
Continental United States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0394.
    Type of Request: Revision to and 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. Regulations 
authorized by the PPA concerning the importation of fruits and 
vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world are 
contained in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 
319.56-74).
    Section 319.56-58 of the regulations provides the requirements for 
the importation of bananas from the Philippines into the continental 
United States. The regulations require the use of information 
collection activities, including operational workplans, recordkeeping, 
production site registration, monitoring and oversight of registered 
production sites, fruit fly trapping to establish places of production 
with low pest prevalence, investigations, certification of harvest 
stage, carton markings, shipping documents, and phytosanitary 
certificates with an additional declaration.
    When comparing the regulations to the information collection 
activities that were previously approved, we found that several of the 
information collection activities above were not included. We have 
adjusted the overall estimates of burden accordingly.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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 0.0076 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers and importers of bananas from the 
Philippines and national plant protection organization officials of the 
Philippines.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 41.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3,924.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 160,891.

[[Page 12683]]

    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,219 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 4th day of March 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05464 Filed 3-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P