[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28946-28947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9897]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0047]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Bees and Related Articles

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 importation of bees and 
related articles.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
23, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    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-2007-0047 to submit or view public 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.
    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your 
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0047, 
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-2007-0047.
    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 bees and 
related articles, contact Dr. Wayne Wehling, Entomologist, Pest Permit 
Evaluations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 734-8757. 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: Bees and Related Articles.
    OMB Number: 0579-0207.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Honeybee Act (7 U.S.C. 281-286), the Secretary 
is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation of honeybees and 
honeybee semen to prevent the introduction into the United States of 
diseases and parasites harmful to honeybees and of undesirable species 
such as the African honeybee. This authority has been delegated to the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
    Further, the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (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. As with 
the Honeybee Act, APHIS has delegated authority for the PPA.
    The establishment of certain bee diseases, parasites, or 
undesirable species and subspecies of honeybees in the United States 
could cause substantial reductions in pollination by bees. These 
reductions could cause serious damage to crops and other plants and 
result in substantial financial losses to American agriculture.
    Regulations for the importation of honeybees and honeybee semen and 
regulations to prevent the introduction of exotic bee diseases and 
parasites through the importation of bees other than honeybees, certain 
beekeeping products, and used beekeeping equipment are contained in 7 
CFR part 322, ``Bees, Beekeeping Byproducts, and Beekeeping 
Equipment.'' These regulations require the use of certain information 
collection activities, including: An application for permit, appeals 
for denial of permit application and cancellation of permit, request 
for risk assessment, inspection report of containment facilities, 
request for release of containment, transit documentation, export 
certificate, notice of arrival, packaging and labeling, and 
recordkeeping by containment facilities.
    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

[[Page 28947]]

    (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 2.4338 hours per response.
    Respondents: Importers and shippers of bees and related articles, 
foreign governments, and containment facilities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents : 869.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 869.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,115 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 17th day of May 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9897 Filed 5-22-07; 8:45 am]
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