### 12172 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 49 / Monday, March 15, 2010 / Notices

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 :**  Dr. Colin D. Stewart, Senior Entomologist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1237; (301) 734–
0774.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

The regulations in 7 CFR part 322 restrict the importation, interstate movement, and transit through the United States of bees, beekeeping byproducts, and beekeeping equipment to prevent the introduction of pests into the United States through the importation of honeybees from approved regions. Australia is currently on the list of approved regions from which adult honeybees maybe imported into the United States under certain conditions.

In March 2002, APHIS issued a report assessing the risks of pest introduction into the United States in imports of honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.) from Australia. The evaluation identified 15 pathogens and pests of bees in that country, all of which occur in the United States. The evaluation concluded that there were no quarantine-significant honey bee pathogens or pests occurring in Australia.

In the 7 years since the completion of the evaluation for Australian bees, new threats to the U.S. honey bee population have emerged. The most prominent threat is Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious syndrome characterized by the abrupt disappearance of a colony’s adult worker bee population, leaving a substantial population of healthy brood, an absence of dead bees, and the delayed invasion of hive pests and robbing of hive stores by neighboring colonies. A link between the disorder, first reported in the United States in 2006, and honey bee imports from Australia has been suggested. The May 2007 discovery of colonies of the Asian honey bee ( Apis cerana ) near Cairns, Victoria, also has raised concerns that exotic honey bee pathogens or parasites may have been introduced into Australia with the arrival of this foreign bee. These developments suggest a need to reevaluate the risks involved in importation of bees from Australia.

APHIS’ review and analysis of the risks associated with the importation of honey bees from Australia are documented in detail in a draft pest risk assessment (PRA) titled, ‘‘ Evaluation of Pest Risks Associated with Importation of Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera L.) from Australia ’’ (November 2009). Findings presented in the draft PRA state that there are honey bee viruses present in Australia that are not known to occur in the United States. The draft PRA concludes that zoosanitary measures may be necessary to reduce the possibility of the introduction of these viruses to the United States via the importation of honey bees from Australia.

We are making the draft PRA available to the public for review and comment. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before the date listed under the heading **DATES** at the beginning of this notice. The draft PRA and the comments received may be the basis for a future change in the regulations.

The draft PRA may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see **ADDRESSES** above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the draft PRA by calling or writing to the person listed under **FOR FURTHER**
**INFORMATION CONTACT** . Please refer to the title of the draft PRA when requesting copies.

Done in Washington, DC, this 8 th day of March 2010.

Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–5573 Filed 3–12–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–S**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service** 

**[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0101]**

**Notice of Availability of a Draft Response to Petitions for the**  **Reclassification of Light Brown Apple Moth as a Non-Quarantine Pest** 

**AGENCY :**  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability and request for comments.

**SUMMARY :**  We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making available, for public review and comment, a draft response to two petitions we received requesting the reclassification of light brown apple moth [ Epiphyas postvittana (Walker)] as a nonquarantine pest. Following the review period, APHIS will consider the comments prior to the release of a final petition response.

**DATES :**  We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 14,
2010.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

∑ Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to ( http://www.regulations.gov/ fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS2009-0101 ) to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.

∑ Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0101, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that yourcomment refers to Docket No. APHIS2009-0101.

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 :**  Ms. Andrea Simao, National Program Manager, Emergency and Domestic Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737- 1231; (301) 734-0930.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

Light brown apple moth ( Epiphyas postvittana [Walker] ) (LBAM) is a plant pest with a broad host range of over 2,000 plant species, including stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, and apricots), apples, pears, grapes, and citrus. LBAM larvae feed on the leaves and fruit of host plants and, under appropriate conditions, may result in significant damage. The pest can be very difficult to eradicate once it is established in an area. To date, natural enemies of leaf rollers have not impacted LBAM populations in the infested areas of California and few predators or parasites of LBAM have been observed.


### 12173 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 49 / Monday, March 15, 2010 / Notices

Although LBAM was first detected in the late 1800s in Hawaii, it is present only at elevations of 1,394 feet or above in the State. Because most agricultural production in Hawaii occurs in the coastal regions, at elevations below 1,394 feet, LBAM has not been considered a pest of concern within the State. However, the interstate movement from Hawaii of cut flowers, fruits and vegetables, plants, and portions of plants, including LBAM host material, is currently prohibited unless the articles are first inspected and found free of plant pests (including LBAM) or are treated for plant pests.

Moths suspected of being LBAM were detected in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, CA, in February 2007, and were subsequently confirmed as LBAM on March 16, 2007. Due to California’s cooler climate and the potential impact of LBAM on a wide range of crops, an aggressive response program has been conducted by the State of California with support from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture.

On September 12, 2008, and February 4, 2009, petitions were submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture requesting that APHIS reclassify LBAM from an actionable, quarantine-significant pest to a non-actionable, non-quarantine pest and that APHIS relieve the Federal restrictions placed on the interstate movement of LBAM host articles from areas where the pest had been detected. The petitions also questioned APHIS’ ability to eradicate LBAM, the appropriateness of technologies used to support an eradication program, the potential impacts of these technologies on the environment and to human health and safety, and the effectiveness of the communication strategies used to inform the public about the LBAM
program.

This document announces the availability of our draft response to those petitions, titled ‘‘ APHIS Draft Response to Petitions for the Reclassification of Light Brown Apple Moth [ Epiphyas postvittana (Walker)] as a Non-Quarantine Pest. ’’ For the sake of clarity, the discussion in our response focused on the petitioners’ request to reclassify LBAM. Questions raised by the petitions regarding regulatory and other actions are distinctly different discussions and are addressed separately in an accompanying document that provides additional information on the LBAM program in a frequently asked questions (FAQ) format.

The text of the petitions, APHIS’ draft petition response, and FAQ may be viewed on the Internet at the Regulations.gov Web site (see

**ADDRESSES** above for instructions on accessing Regulations.gov). The draft response and FAQ may also be viewed on the APHIS Web site at ( http:// www.aphis.usda.gov/plant

_health/ plant

_

pest

_info/lba

_moth/index.shtml). You may request paper copies of the documents by calling or writing to the person listed under **FOR FURTHER**
**INFORMATION CONTACT** . Please refer to the title of the documents when requesting copies. The documents are also available for review in our reading room (information on the location and hours of the reading room is listed under the heading **ADDRESSES** at the beginning of this notice).

After evaluating public comments we receive during the comment period (see

**DATES** at the beginning of this notice), APHIS will determine whether or not to continue Federal enforcement of mandatory phytosanitary domestic quarantine regulations and the application of mandatory procedures for the official control of LBAM. We will then publish a document in the Federal Register announcing our determination.

Done in Washington, DC, this 9 th day of March 2010.

Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2010–5599 Filed 3–12–10; 12:46 pm]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–S**

**DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE**

**Bureau of Industry and Security**

**Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Defense Priorities**  **and Allocations System**

**AGENCY :**  Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

**DATES :**  Written comments must be submitted on or before May 14, 2010.

**ADDRESSES :**  Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Larry Hall, BIS ICB Liaison, (202) 482–4895, lhall@bis.doc.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

I. Abstract

This recordkeeping requirement is necessary for administration and enforcement of delegated authority under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061, et seq.) and the Selective Service Act of 1948 (50 U.S.C. App. 468). Any person who receives a priority-rated order under the implementing Defense Priorities and Allocations System regulation (15 CFR part 700) must retain the records for at least 3 years.

II. Method of Collection

Records retention.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0694–0053. Form Number(s): None. Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 707,000.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 to 32 minute(s).

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,477.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $290,000.
IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.