[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51265-51266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20288]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0089]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Peppers From Certain Central American 
Countries

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 peppers 
from certain Central American countries.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 3, 2008.

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-2008-0089 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-2008-0089, 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-2008-0089.
    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 regulations for the 
importation of peppers from certain Central American countries, contact 
Mr. Juan A. Roman, Import Specialist, Commodity Import Analysis and 
Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 734-8758. 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: Importation of Peppers From Certain Central American 
Countries.
    OMB Number: 0579-0274.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 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. Regulations

[[Page 51266]]

authorized by the PPA concerning the importation of fruits and 
vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world are 
contained in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 
319.56-47).
    Under these regulations, peppers from Costa Rica, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua are subject to certain conditions 
before entering the United States to prevent the introduction of plant 
pests into the United States. The regulations require the use of 
information collection activities including inspections by Central 
American national plant protection organization officials, fruit fly 
trapping, monitoring, and recordkeeping, box labeling, and a 
phytosanitary certificate.
    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 0.0037936 hours per response.
    Respondents: National plant protection organization officials and 
growers and shippers of peppers in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, and Nicaragua.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 245.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3,226.653.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 790,530.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,999 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 26th day of August 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20288 Filed 8-29-08; 8:45 am]
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