[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29659-29660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14716]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0041]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Certification Program for Imported Articles of Pelargonium 
spp. and Solanum spp. to Prevent the Introduction of Potato Brown Rot

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 a certification program for 
imported articles of Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. to prevent the 
introduction of potato brown rot into the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 24, 2009.

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-2009-0041 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-2009-0041, 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-2009-0041.
    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 to 
prevent the introduction of potato brown rot into the United States, 
contact Mr. Vedpal Malik, Senior Agriculturalist, Quarantine Policy, 
Analysis and Support, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 60, Riverdale, 
MD 20732-1231; (301) 734-6774. 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: Certification Program for Imported Articles of Pelargonium 
spp. and Solanum spp. to Prevent the Introduction of Potato Brown Rot.
    OMB Number: 0579-0221.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), 
the Animal

[[Page 29660]]

and Plant Health Inspection Service is authorized to prohibit or 
restrict the importation of plants, plant products, plant pests, and 
other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests and noxious 
weeds into the United States.
    The regulations in 7 CFR part 319 prohibit or restrict the 
importation of certain plants and plant products into the United States 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests. The regulations contained 
in ``Subpart--Nursery Stock, Plants, Roots, Bulbs, Seeds, and Other 
Plant Products,'' 319.37 through 319.37-14 (referred to below as the 
regulations), restrict, among other things, the importation of living 
plants, plant parts, seeds, and plant cuttings for propagation.
    The regulations include a certification program for articles of 
Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. imported from countries where the 
bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 is known to occur. The 
requirements of the certification program were designed to ensure that 
Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 will not be introduced into the 
United States through the importation of articles of Pelargonium spp. 
and Solanum spp. This bacterial strain causes potato brown rot, which 
causes potatoes to rot through, making them unusable and seriously 
affecting potato yields.
    The certification program requires the collection of information 
through phytosanitary certificates, trust funds, and compliance 
agreements.
    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 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Importers and foreign national plant protection 
organizations.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 27.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 37.851851.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 1,022.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,022 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 June 2009.
Kevin Shea,
 Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-14716 Filed 6-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P