[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 60 (Thursday, March 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14768-14769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5781]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0176]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Artificially Dwarfed Plants

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 importation of 
artificially dwarfed plants.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 
29, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the 
Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0176 to submit or view public

[[Page 14769]]

comments and to view supporting and related materials available 
electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including 
instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing 
the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through 
the site's ``User Tips'' link.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2006-0176, 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-2006-0176.
    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 on an information 
collection associated with regulations for the importation of 
artificially dwarfed plants, contact Dr. Arnold Tschanz, Senior Import 
Specialist, Permits, Registrations, Imports and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-5306. For 
copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Importation of Artificially Dwarfed Plants.
    OMB Number: 0579-0176.
    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 prohibit or 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. This 
authority has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service.
    The regulations contained in ``Subpart-Nursery Stock, Plants, 
Roots, Bulbs, Seeds, and Other Plant Products'' (7 CFR 319.37 through 
319.37-14) prohibit or restrict the importation of living plants, plant 
parts, and seeds for propagation.
    Among other things, the regulations require artificially dwarfed 
plants imported into the United States to be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the government of the country of 
origin. This certificate must contain declarations that certain 
conditions were met in the country of origin to protect against the 
infestation of the plants by longhorned beetles and other plant pests.
    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 
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 0.2533 hours per response.
    Respondents: Plant health officials of exporting countries.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 30.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 150.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 38 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 23rd day of March 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-5781 Filed 3-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P