[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47688-47689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22225]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0078]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Importation of Fresh Blueberry Fruit From 
Morocco Into the Continental United States

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the regulations for the 
importation of fresh blueberry fruit from Morocco into the continental 
United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0078.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0078, 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-2017-
0078 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations 
related to the importation of fresh blueberries from Morocco into the 
continental United States, contact Ms. Dorothy Wayson, Senior 
Regulatory Specialist,

[[Page 47689]]

Plant Health Programs, Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2036. For 
copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, 
at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Importation of Fresh Blueberry Fruit from Morocco Into the 
Continental United States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0421.
    Type of Request: Revision to and 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. As authorized 
by the PPA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulates 
the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from 
certain parts of the world as provided in ``Subpart--Fruits and 
Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-80).
    In accordance with Sec.  319.56-69, blueberries from Morocco may be 
imported into the continental United States under certain conditions to 
prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States. These 
conditions require the use of certain information collection 
activities, including application for permits to import plants and 
plant products, appeal of denial or revocation of permit, emergency 
action notification, notice of arrival, registration of production 
sites, inspections of crops, and remedial actions by production sites. 
Also, each consignment of blueberries must be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection 
organization (NPPO) of Morocco with an additional declaration stating 
that the provisions of Sec.  319.56-69 have been met, and that the 
consignment was inspected prior to export and found free of Monilinia 
fructigena. These actions allow the importation of blueberries from 
Morocco while continuing to protect the United States against the 
introduction of plant pests.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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 burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.63 hours per response.
    Respondents: Growers and importers of blueberry fruit from Morocco 
and the NPPO of Morocco.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 15.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 9.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 130.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 82 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 6th day of October 2017 .
Michael C. Gregoire,
 Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22225 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P