82 FR 47693 - Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet and Checklist

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 197 (October 13, 2017)

Page Range		47693-47694
FR Document		2017-22348

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 gypsy moth program.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47693-47694]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22348]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0077]

Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet and
Checklist

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 gypsy moth program.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before
December 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0077.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0077, 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-2017-
0077 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 gypsy moth
program, contact Mr. Paul Chaloux, National Policy Manager, PHP, PPQ,
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 137, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2064.
For copies of more detailed information on the information collection,
contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator,
at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet and Checklist.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0104.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.),
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), either independently or in
cooperation with the States, is authorized to carry out operations or
measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard
the spread of plant pests new to the United States or not widely
distributed throughout the United States. The USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the delegated authority to carry
out this mission.
As part of the mission, APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine
(PPQ) program engages in detection surveys to monitor for the presence
of, among other things, the European gypsy moth and the Asian gypsy
moth. The European gypsy moth is one of the most destructive pests of
fruit and ornamental trees as well as hardwood forests. First
introduced into the United States in Medford, MA, in 1869, the European
gypsy moth has gradually spread to infest the entire northeastern
portion of the country. The gypsy moth regulations can be found in 7
CFR 301.45 through 301.45-12.
Heavily infested European gypsy moth areas are inundated with
actively crawling larvae that cover trees, fences, vehicles, and houses
during their search for food. Entire areas may be stripped of all
foliage, often resulting in heavy damage to trees. The damage can have
long-lasting effects, depriving wildlife of food and shelter, and
severely limiting the recreational value of forested areas.
The Asian gypsy moth is an exotic strain of gypsy moth that is
closely related to the European variety already established in the
United States. While the Asian gypsy moth has been introduced into the
United States on several occasions, it is currently not established in
the United States. However, due to behavioral differences, the Asian
gypsy moth is considered to pose an even greater threat to trees and
forested areas than the European gypsy moth.
Unlike the flightless European gypsy moth female adult, the Asian
gypsy moth female adult is capable of strong directed flight between
mating and egg deposition, significantly increasing its ability to
spread over a much greater area and become widely established within a
short time. In addition, Asian gypsy moth larvae feed on a much wider
variety of hosts, allowing them to exploit more areas and cause more
damage than the European gypsy moth.
To determine the presence and extent of a European gypsy moth or an
Asian gypsy moth infestation, APHIS sets traps in high-risk areas to
collect specimens. Once an infestation is identified, control and
eradication work (usually involving State cooperation) is initiated to
eliminate the moths.
APHIS personnel, with assistance from State/local officials, check
traps for the presence of gypsy moths. If a suspicious moth is found in
the trap, it is sent to APHIS laboratories at the Otis Methods
Development Center in Massachusetts so that it can be correctly
identified through DNA analysis. DNA analysis is the only way to
accurately identify these insects because the European gypsy moth and
the Asian gypsy moth are strains of the same species, and they cannot
be visually distinguished from each other.
The PPQ or State/local officials submitting the moth for analysis
must complete a specimen worksheet, which accompanies the insect to the
laboratory. The worksheet enables Federal and State/local officials to
identify and track specific specimens through the DNA identification
tests that are conducted. In addition, the information provided by the
gypsy moth identification worksheets is vital to APHIS' ability to
monitor, detect, and eradicate gypsy moth infestations.
The gypsy moth regulations (Sec. 301.45-4(a)) also require the

[[Page 47694]]

inspection of outdoor household articles that are to be moved from a
gypsy moth quarantined area to a non-quarantined area to ensure that
they are free of all life stages of gypsy moth. Individuals may use a
self-inspection checklist, ``It's the Law; Before Moving, Check For
Gypsy Moth.'' The completed checklist must be signed by the person who
performed the inspection and must be kept in the vehicle used to move
the outdoor household articles in the event that USDA or State/local
officials request it during the movement of the articles. In addition,
it is recommended that individuals maintain a copy of the signed
checklist for at least 5 years.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
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 burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.54 hours per response.
Respondents: Individuals who complete the self-inspection checklist
and State and local officials.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,500,020.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
Estimated annual number of responses: 5,000,260.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,707,565 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 11th day of October 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22348 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

47694 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2017 / Notices

inspection of outdoor household articles Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of jucunda, Lemophagus errabundus, and
that are to be moved from a gypsy moth October 2017. Tetrastichus setifer into the contiguous
quarantined area to a non-quarantined Michael C. Gregoire, United States to reduce the severity of
area to ensure that they are free of all Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant lily leaf beetle infestations.
life stages of gypsy moth. Individuals Health Inspection Service.
On July 13, 2017, we published in the
may use a self-inspection checklist, ‘‘It’s [FR Doc. 2017–22348 Filed 10–12–17; 8:45 am]
Federal Register (82 FR 32317–32318,
the Law; Before Moving, Check For BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
Docket No. APHIS–2017–0025) a
Gypsy Moth.’’ The completed checklist notice 1 in which we announced the
must be signed by the person who
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE availability, for public review and
performed the inspection and must be
comment, of an environmental
kept in the vehicle used to move the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection assessment (EA) that examined the
outdoor household articles in the event
Service potential environmental impacts
that USDA or State/local officials
associated with the proposed release of
request it during the movement of the [Docket No. APHIS–2017–0025]
articles. In addition, it is recommended these biological control agents into the
that individuals maintain a copy of the Availability of a Final Environmental contiguous United States.
signed checklist for at least 5 years. Assessment and Finding of No We solicited comments on the EA for
We are asking the Office of Significant Impact for a Release of 30 days ending August 14, 2017. We
Management and Budget (OMB) to Three Parasitoids for Biological received one comment by that date. The
approve these information collection Control of the Lily Leaf Beetle commenter was opposed to the release
activities, as described, for an additional AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health of the organism on principle, but did
3 years. Inspection Service, USDA. not raise any specific or substantive
The purpose of this notice is to solicit issues.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
comments from the public (as well as
In this document, we are advising the
affected agencies) concerning our SUMMARY: We are advising the public public of our finding of no significant
information collection. These comments that an environmental assessment and impact (FONSI) regarding the release of
will help us: finding of no significant impact have
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of Diaparsis jucunda, Lemophagus
been prepared by the Animal and Plant errabundus, and Tetrastichus setifer
information is necessary for the proper Health Inspection Service relative to the
performance of the functions of the into the contiguous United States for the
release of three parasitoids, Diaparsis
Agency, including whether the biological control of the lily leaf beetle.
jucunda, Lemophagus errabundus, and
information will have practical utility; The finding, which is based on the EA,
Tetrastichus setifer, for the biological
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our reflects our determination that release of
control of the lily leaf beetle in the
estimate of the burden of the collection contiguous United States. Based on its these biological control agents will not
of information, including the validity of finding of no significant impact, the have a significant impact on the quality
the methodology and assumptions used; Animal and Plant Health Inspection of the human environment.
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and Service has determined that an The EA and FONSI may be viewed on
clarity of the information to be environmental impact statement need the Regulations.gov Web site (see
collected; and not be prepared. footnote 1). Copies of the EA and FONSI
(4) Minimize the burden of the are also available for public inspection
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
collection of information on those who at USDA, Room 1141, South Building,
Colin D. Stewart, Assistant Director,
are to respond, through use, as 14th Street and Independence Avenue
Pests, Pathogens, and Biocontrol
appropriate, of automated, electronic, SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m.
Permits, Permitting and Compliance
mechanical, and other collection and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic except holidays. Persons wishing to
Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–
submission of responses. inspect copies are requested to call
1231; (301) 851–2237, email:
Estimate of burden: The public
Colin.D.Stewart@aphis.usda.gov. ahead on (202) 799–7039 to facilitate
burden for this collection of information
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lily entry into the reading room. In addition,
is estimated to average 0.54 hours per
response. leaf beetle, Lilioceris lilii copies may be obtained by calling or
Respondents: Individuals who (Coleptera:Chrysomelidae), an writing to the individual listed under
complete the self-inspection checklist aggressive pest of lilies and fritillaries, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
and State and local officials. has expanded its range rapidly over the The EA and FONSI have been
Estimated annual number of past decade, and is now found in prepared in accordance with: (1) The
respondents: 2,500,020. several northeastern and central States, National Environmental Policy Act of
Estimated annual number of across Canada, and in Washington State. 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
responses per respondent: 2. Further expansion is expected based on 4321 et seq.); (2) regulations of the
Estimated annual number of its historical distribution in nearly all of Council on Environmental Quality for
responses: 5,000,260. Europe and parts of North Africa. The implementing the procedural provisions
Estimated total annual burden on Washington State Department of of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); (3)
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

respondents: 2,707,565 hours. (Due to Agriculture is proposing to release three USDA regulations implementing NEPA
averaging, the total annual burden hours insect parasitoid species for the
(7 CFR part 1b); and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
may not equal the product of the annual biological control of the lily leaf beetle;
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
number of responses multiplied by the none of these species have been
372).
reporting burden per response.) previously released or established in
All responses to this notice will be Washington State. The Animal and 1 To view the notice, environmental assessment,
summarized and included in the request Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finding of no significant impact, and the comment
for OMB approval. All comments will is proposing to issue permits for the we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/
also become a matter of public record. field release of the parasitoids Diaparsis docket?D=APHIS-2017-0025.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Oct 12, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13OCN1.SGM 13OCN1

Document Created: 2017-10-13 04:33:58
Document Modified: 2017-10-13 04:33:58

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
Dates		We will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 12, 2017.
Contact		For information on the gypsy moth program, contact Mr. Paul Chaloux, National Policy Manager, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 137, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2064. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.
FR Citation		82 FR 47693

82 FR 47693 - Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet and Checklist

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 197 (October 13, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service