[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 151 (Friday, August 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 39606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18987]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0051]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment of Imported Fruits and 
Vegetables

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: 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 an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with regulations for the use of irradiation as a 
phytosanitary treatment of imported fruits and vegetables.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0051 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0051, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2009-0051.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room 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) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding regulations 
for irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment of imported fruits and 
vegetables, contact Dr. Inder P. Gadh, Senior Risk Manager-Treatments, 
Regulations, Permits, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-0627. 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: Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatment 
of Imported Fruits and Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0579-0155.
    Type of Request: 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) 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 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 provide for the use of 
irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for fruits and vegetables 
imported into the United States. The irradiation treatment provides 
protection against all insect pests including fruit flies, the mango 
seed weevil, and others. It may be used as an alternative to other 
approved treatments for these pests in fruits and vegetables, such as 
fumigation, cold treatment, heat treatment, and other techniques.
    The regulations concerning irradiation treatment involve the 
collection of information, including a compliance agreement, 24-hour 
notification, labeling, dosimetry recordings, requests for dosimetry 
device approval, requests for facility approval, trust fund agreement, 
and annual work plan, as well as recordkeeping.
    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 
information collection, 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, 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 0.0015369 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign plant protection services, irradiation 
facility personnel, importers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 93.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 433.76344.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 40,340.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 62 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 3rd day of August 2009.
William H. Clay,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-18987 Filed 8-6-09; 8:45 am]
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