[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54782-54783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22193]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0102]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus in 
Growing Media from the Netherlands and Denmark

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 Christmas 
cactus and Easter cactus in growing media from the Netherlands and 
Denmark.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 24, 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-2008-0102 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

[[Page 54783]]

to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0102, Regulatory Analysis and Development, 
PPD, APHIS, Station3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-
2008-0102.
    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 Christmas cactus and Easter cactus in growing media from 
the Netherlands and Denmark, contact Dr. Arnold T. Tschanz, Senior Risk 
Manager, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, 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) 
851-2908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Importation of Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus in Growing 
Media from the Netherlands and Denmark.
    OMB Number: 0579-0266.
    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 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. The regulations 
contained in ``Subpart--Nursery Stock, Plants, Roots, Bulbs, Seeds, and 
Other Plant Products'' prohibit or restrict, among other things, the 
importation of living plants, plant parts, and seeds for propagation.
    Under these regulations, Christmas cactus and Easter cactus in 
approved growing media may be imported into the United States from the 
Netherlands and Denmark under certain conditions, which require the use 
of a phytosanitary certificate and declaration stating the plants were 
grown in accordance with specific conditions, an agreement between 
APHIS and the plant protection service of the country where the plants 
are grown, and an agreement between the foreign plant protection 
service and the grower.
    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 0.5714 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign plant protection service officials and growers 
in the Netherlands and Denmark.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 10.5.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 210.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 120 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 September 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22193 Filed 9-22-08; 8:45 am]
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