Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 97-123-1]

Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information

Collection

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 in support of the gypsy moth program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 13, 1998 to be

assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of burden estimate,

ways to minimize the burden (such as through the use of automated

collection techniques or other forms of information technology), or any

other aspect of this collection of information to: Docket No. 97-123-1,

Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River

Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please send an original and

three copies, and state that your comments refer to Docket 97-123-1.

Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building,

14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, between 8

a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons

wishing to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-

2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For information regarding the gypsy moth

identification worksheet, contact Ms. Coanne O'Hern, Operations

Officer, Program Support Staff, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134,

Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-8247. For copies of more detailed

information on the information collection, contact Mr. Gregg Ramsey,

Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-5682.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet.

OMB Number: 0579-0104.

Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1998.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information

collection.

Abstract: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is

responsible for preventing the introduction of foreign plant pests into

the United States, preventing the spread of plant pests not widely

distributed in the United States, and eradicating those plant pests

when eradication is feasible.

To this end, the Plant Protection and Quarantine Service (PPQ) of

the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA, engages

in detection surveys to monitor for the presence of, among other

things, the European gypsy moth and the Asian gypsy moth.

The European gypsy moth was introduced into the United States in

the 1860's and has been damaging woodland areas in the Northeast for

the last 100 years. The Asian gypsy moth, which is not established in

this country, is considered to pose an even greater threat to trees and

forested areas.

Unlike the flightless European gypsy moth female adult, the Asian

gypsy moth female adult is capable of strong directed flight between

mating and egg deposition, significantly increasing its ability to

spread over a much greater area and become widely established within a

short period of time.

In order to determine the presence and extent of a European gypsy

moth or an Asian gypsy moth infestation, we set traps in high risk

areas to collect specimens. Once an infestation is identified, control

and eradication work (usually involving State cooperation) is initiated

to eradicate the moths.

APHIS personnel, with assistance from State agriculture personnel,

check traps for the presence of gypsy moths. If a suspicious moth is

found in the trap, it is sent to APHIS laboratories at the Otis Methods

Development Center so that it can be correctly identified through DNA

analysis. (Since the European gypsy moth and the Asian gypsy moth are

strains of the same species, they cannot be visually distinguished from

each other. DNA analysis is the only way to accurately identify these

insects.)

The individual submitting the moth for analysis (whether a PPQ

employee or State employee) completes a gypsy moth identification

worksheet (PPQ Form 305), which accompanies the insect to the

laboratory. The worksheet enables both Federal and State regulatory

officials to identify and track specific specimens through the DNA

identification tests that we conduct.

The information provided by the gypsy moth identification

worksheets is vital to our ability to monitor, detect, and eradicate

gypsy moth infestations.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve

the continued use of this information collection activity.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public

(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection.

We need this outside input to help us:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed 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

proposed 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 .0841 hours per response.

Respondents: State cooperators.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 120.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.7833.

Estimated annual number of responses: 214.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 18 hours. (Due to

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rounding, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of

the annual number of responses multiplied by the average 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 5th day of February 1998.

Craig A. Reed,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-3418 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]

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