SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Phytophthora Ramorum; Quarantine and Regulations.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0310.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (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.

In accordance with the regulations in “Subpart X-Phytophthora Ramorum” (§§ 301.92 through 301.92-12), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture restricts the interstate movement of certain articles to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum ( P. ramorum), the plant pathogen that causes the disease commonly known as sudden oak death. The regulations contain requirements for the interstate movement of regulated articles, such as nursery stock and certain trees, from both quarantined areas and regulated establishments and involve information collection activities including compliance agreements, annual inspections of nurseries and certification of nurseries, issuance and cancellation of certificates, sampling labels for testing, records of fungicide applications, recordkeeping of incoming and outgoing shipments of plants, notification of high risk P. ramorum genera, and emergency action notifications.

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 burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.3 hours per response.

Respondents: Plant growers, nursery operators, and State plant regulatory officials.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 60.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 14.

Estimated annual number of responses: 827.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 259 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.

88 FR 11888