Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Untreated Oranges, Tangerines, and Grapefruit From Mexico Transiting the United States to Foreign Countries

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 transit of untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico through the United States to foreign countries.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 24, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0061.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2016-0061, 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-2016-0061 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 transit of untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico through the United States to foreign countries, contact Mr. David Hanken, National Policy Manager, QPAS, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 60, Riverdale MD 20737; (301) 851-2195. 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: Untreated Oranges, Tangerines, and Grapefruit from Mexico Transiting the United States to Foreign Countries.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0303.

Type of Request: Revision to and 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 or their dissemination within the United States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The plant quarantine safeguard regulations in 7 CFR part 352 allow certain products or articles that are classified as prohibited or restricted under other APHIS regulations in title 7 to be moved into or through the United States under certain conditions. Such articles include fruits and vegetables that are moved into the United States for: (1) A temporary stay where unloading or landing is not intended; (2) unloading or landing for transshipment and exportation; (3) unloading or landing for transportation and exportation; or (4) unloading and entry at a port other than the port of first arrival. Fruits and vegetables that are moved into the United States under these circumstances are subject to inspection and must be handled in accordance with conditions assigned under the safeguard regulations to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests.

In accordance with § 352.30, untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico may be moved into or through the United States in transit to foreign countries under certain conditions to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States. These conditions involve the use of information collection activities. Previously, this collection included only a transit permit. In this extension of approval request, we are adding the activities of a transportation and exportation permit, inspection, inspection certificate, and notice of arrival.

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 0.67 hours per response.

Respondents: Shippers.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 3.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 13.

Estimated annual number of responses: 39.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 26 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.