SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment of Imported Fruits and Vegetables.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0155.

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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to regulate the importation of plants, plant products (including fruits and vegetables), and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests, diseases, and noxious weeds into the United States.

Regulations governing the importation of fruits and vegetables are set out in 7 CFR part 319. In accordance with the regulations, some fruits and vegetables from certain regions of the world must be treated for insect pests in order to be eligible for entry into the United States.

The regulations in 7 CFR part 305, among other things, provide for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for some fruits and vegetables imported into the United States. Irradiation provides protection against all insect pests, including fruit flies, the mango seed weevil, and others. Irradiation treatment may be used as an alternative to other approved treatments for pests in fruits and vegetables, such as fumigation, cold treatment, heat treatment, and other techniques.

The regulations concerning irradiation involve the collection of information, such as a compliance agreement, operational work plans (cooperative agreements), dosimetry agreement at the irradiation facility, request for dosimetry device approval, 30-day notification, labeling and packaging, recordkeeping, request for certification and inspection of facility, irradiation treatment workplan, facility preclearance workplan, trust fund agreement, phytosanitary certificate, and denial and withdrawal of certification.

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 burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.001 hours per response.

Respondents: National plant protection organizations of exporting countries, irradiation facility operators, and U.S. importers of fruits and vegetables.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 86.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 71,334.

Estimated annual number of responses: 6,134,715.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 6,902 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.

87 FR 57168