This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

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rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

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statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

3729 

Vol. 77, No. 16 

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2011–0119] 

Notice of Request for Extension of 

Approval of an Information Collection; 

Plant Pest, Noxious Weed, and 

Garbage Regulations 

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 

plant pest, noxious weed, and garbage 

regulations. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before March 26, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov/#!document

Detail;D=APHIS–2011–0119–0001. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Send your comment to Docket No. 

APHIS–2011–0119, 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–2011–0119 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) 690–2817 before 

coming. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information regarding plant pest, 

noxious weed, and garbage regulations, 

contact Dr. Shirley Wager-Page ́, Chief, 

Pest Permit Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 

River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 

20737; (301) 734–8453. 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: Plant Pest, Noxious Weed, and 

Garbage Regulations. 

OMB Number: 0579–0054. 

Type of Request: Extension of 

approval of an information collection. 

Abstract: The Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 

authorized, among other things, to 

prohibit the importation and interstate 

movement of plants, animals, plant and 

animal products, noxious weeds, and 

other articles to prevent the 

introduction into and dissemination 

within the United States of plant and 

animal pests and diseases and noxious 

weeds. 

In connection with this mission, 

APHIS regulates the importation and 

interstate movement of plant pests, 

noxious weeds, and waste material 

derived from plant or animal matter 

(commonly referred to as garbage) under 

7 CFR parts 330 and 360 and 9 CFR part 

94. 

These regulations contain information 

collection requirements, including 

requirements to apply for permits to 

import regulated articles (e.g., plant 

pests, noxious weeds, or soil) or to move 

regulated articles interstate, 

requirements for facilities to be 

approved by APHIS to dispose of 

regulated garbage, and requirements for 

any person engaged in the business of 

handling or disposing of regulated 

garbage to first enter into a compliance 

agreement with APHIS. These 

requirements are necessary to ensure 

that importation and interstate 

movement of regulated articles, and 

disposal of regulated garbage, occur 

under appropriate conditions to prevent 

the dissemination of plant and animal 

pests and diseases and noxious weeds. 

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 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 

collection of information 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 

0.505420017 hours per response. 

Respondents: Importers and shippers 

of plant pests, noxious weeds, and other 

regulated articles; State plant health 

officials; owners/operators of regulated 

garbage-handling facilities. 

Estimated annual number of 

respondents: 25,755. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses per respondent: 1.414832071. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses: 36,439. 

Estimated total annual burden on 

respondents: 18,417 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 18th day of 

January 2012. 

Kevin Shea, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–1308 Filed 1–24–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 


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