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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73613-73614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29886]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0085]

Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; APHIS Online Reporting Form

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 that allows the public to report sightings of 
plant pests and diseases.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
February 11, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0085-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0085, 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-2012-
0085 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 APHIS Online 
Reporting Form, contact Ms. Heather Curlett, Outreach and Risk 
Communications Coordinator, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 130, 
Riverdale MD 20737; (301) 851-2294. For copies of more detailed 
information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste 
Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: APHIS Online Reporting Form.
    OMB Number: 0579-0311.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (U.S.C. 7701 et 
seq.) (PPA), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
either independently or in cooperation with States, may carry out 
operations or measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, 
prevent, or retard the spread of plant pests and diseases that are new 
to or not widely distributed within the United States. This authority 
allows APHIS to establish control programs for a number of pests and 
diseases of concern, including Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), emerald 
ash borer beetle, and citrus greening, to name a few.
    APHIS relies on the public to report sightings of pests of concern 
or suspicious signs of pest or disease damage they may see in their 
local area. This reporting is currently done through a simple voluntary 
online form currently used to obtain reports from the public on 
sightings or signs of ALB. Reports can come from areas that are under 
regulatory oversight and those areas where no regulatory oversight 
currently exists. Surveys performed by members of the general public, 
nature organizations, school groups, garden clubs, and others help 
APHIS uncover unknown infestations. In fact, surveys conducted by the 
public supplement the work done by the Agency's surveyors.
    The current online form is used to obtain reports from the public 
on signs or sightings of ALB. This information collection activity was 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control 
number 0579-0311. However, since the form allows the public to only 
enter information concerning ALB, APHIS is expanding the form to enable 
the public to submit reports about a variety of pests and diseases. 
This information will be used to identify new or expanded outbreaks of 
pests and diseases of concern. The reports, as they are collected, will 
be transmitted to the appropriate officials in APHIS' Plant Protection 
and Quarantine program for follow-up, including onsite inspections by 
APHIS officials or State department of agriculture plant pest experts. 
Follow-up questions or details on location will be obtained by 
contacting the respondent for more information and directions.
    We are asking OMB to approve our use of this information collection 
activity 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 information collection on those who 
are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, 
mechanical,

[[Page 73614]]

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 0.083 hours per response.
    Respondents: General public, nature organizations, school groups, 
and garden clubs.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 5,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 415 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 6th day of December 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29886 Filed 12-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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