SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Spongy Moth Identification Worksheet and Checklist.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0104.

Type of Request: 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 Spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth ^[1] ) and the flighted spongy moth complex. The spongy 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 spongy moth has gradually spread to infest the entire northeastern portion of the country. The spongy moth regulations can be found in 7 CFR 301.45 through 301.45-12.

Heavily infested spongy 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 flighted spongy moth complex is an exotic strain of spongy moth that is closely related to the spongy moth already established in the United States. While the flighted spongy 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 flighted spongy moth complex is considered to pose an even greater threat to trees and forested areas than the spongy moth.

Unlike the flightless spongy moth female adult, flighted spongy moth complex female adults are 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, flighted spongy moth larvae feed on a much wider variety of hosts, allowing them to exploit more areas and cause more damage than the European spongy moth.

To determine the presence and extent of a European spongy moth or a flighted spongy moth complex 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 agriculture personnel, check traps for the presence of spongy moths. If a suspicious moth is found in the trap, it is sent to APHIS laboratories so that it can be correctly identified through DNA analysis. DNA analysis is the only way to accurately identify these insects because the European spongy moth and the flighted spongy moth are strains of the same species, and they cannot be visually distinguished from each other.

The PPQ official or State/local collaborator submitting the moth for analysis must complete a specimen for determination worksheet, which accompanies the insect to the laboratory. The worksheet enables Federal and State/local regulatory officials to identify and track specific specimens through the DNA identification tests that are conducted. ( printed page 21786) In addition, the information provided by the spongy moth identification worksheets is vital to APHIS' ability to monitor, detect, and eradicate spongy moth infestations.

The spongy moth regulations (§  301.45-4(a)) also require the inspection of outdoor household articles that are to be moved from a spongy moth quarantined area to a non-quarantined area to ensure that they are free of all life stages of spongy moth. Individuals may use a self-inspection checklist, which is completed and signed by the person who performed the inspection, and 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. APHIS has revised the title of the information collection to reflect the common name of regulated Lymantria moths.

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 0.362 hours per response.

Respondents: Individuals who complete the self-inspection checklist and State and local cooperators.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,500,100.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.

Estimated annual number of responses: 7,500,250.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,711,543 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.

91 FR 21785