Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Wooden Handicrafts From China

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the importation of wooden handicrafts from China.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 28, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0092.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2015-0092, 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-2015-0092 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 for the importation of wooden handicrafts from China, contact Mr. J. Tyrone Jones, Trade Director, PIM, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2344. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Importation of Wooden Handicrafts From China.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0357.

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. Regulations authorized by the PPA concerning the importation of wooden handicrafts from China are contained in “Subpart—Logs, Lumber, and Other Wood Articles” (7 CFR 319.40-1 through 319.40-11).

Section 319.40-5 of the regulations provides the requirements for the importation of wooden handicrafts from China. The regulations require the use of an identification tag, which is considered an information collection activity. All packages that are used to ship wooden handicrafts must be labeled with a merchandise tag containing the identity of the product manufacturer. This tag must be applied to each shipping package in China prior to export and remain attached to the package until it reaches the location at which the wooden handicraft will be sold in the United States.

However, additional information collection activities, such as a fumigation certificate and an application for an import permit are also required for the importation of wooden handicrafts from China. Fumigation certificates are required to verify that the articles have been treated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305. In addition, an import permit must be issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and to receive an import permit, importers must complete an application for an import permit. We are adding these two activities to this information collection. As a result, the overall estimates of burden have increased.

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 reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.002 hours per response.

Respondents: Exporters of wooden handicrafts from China and national plant protection organization officials of China.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 361.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 7,258.17.

Estimated annual number of responses: 2,620,198.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 5,250 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.