Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 97-128-1]

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 necessary for collecting user fees, ensuring remittances in

a timely manner, and determining proper credit for payment of

international air passenger, aircraft clearance, commercial truck,

commercial railroad car, commercial vessel, phytosanitary certificate,

import/export, and veterinary diagnostic user fees.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 8, 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. 97-128-1,

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 97-128-1.

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 CONTACT: For information regarding user fees,

contact Ms. Donna J. Ford, User Fees Section Head, FSSB, APHIS, 4700

River Road Unit 54, Riverdale, MD 20737-1232, (301) 734-5752; or e-mail

[email protected]. For copies of more detailed information on the

information collection, contact Ms. Celeste Sickles, Information

Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: User Fee Regulations.

OMB Number: 0579-0094.

Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1998.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information

collection.

Abstract: This information collection is necessary for the Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to

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effectively collect fees, ensure remittances in a timely manner, and

determine proper credit for payment of international air passenger,

aircraft clearance, commercial truck, commercial railroad car,

commercial vessel, phytosanitary certificate, import/export, and

veterinary diagnostic user fees. APHIS no longer receives an

appropriation to fund these activities; instead, user fees are

calculated and assessed to ensure full cost recovery of each user fee

program. If the information was not collected, the Agency would not be

able to perform the services since the fees collected will fund the

work.

Requestors of our services usually are repeat customers, and, in

many cases, request that we bill them for our services. Also, the 1996

Debt Improvement Collection Act requires that agencies collect tax

identification numbers (TIN's) from all persons doing business with the

Government for purposes of collecting delinquent debts. Without a TIN,

service cannot be provided on a credit basis.

We are responsible for ensuring that the fees collected are correct

and that they are remitted in full and in a timely manner. To ensure

this, the party responsible for collecting and remitting fees

(ticketing agents for transportation companies) must allow APHIS

personnel to verify the accuracy of the fees collected and remitted,

and otherwise determine compliance with the statute and regulations. We

also require that whoever is responsible for making fee payments advise

us of the name, address, and telephone number of a responsible officer

who is authorized to verify fee calculations, collections, and

remittances. The requests for our services are in writing, by

telephone, or in person. The information contained in each request

identifies the specific service requested and the time in which the

requester wishes the service to be performed. This information is

necessary in order for the animal import centers and port offices to

schedule the work and to calculate the fees due.

We have reviewed paperwork requirements of the user fee programs

and have made every possible effort to streamline our processes and

minimize the impact on the public. Whenever possible, we are using

existing billing/collection methods to minimize the cost to the Agency.

If the work is not performed, individuals and business entities will

not be able to import animals, fruits, vegetables, plants, and animal

and plant products.

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 0.03663 hours per response.

Respondents: Arriving international passengers, international means

of conveyance, and importers and exporters who wish to import or export

animals and animal products.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 17,761.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 11.7773.

Estimated annual number of responses: 209,177.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 7,663 hours. (Due to

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 3rd day of March 1998.

Craig A. Reed,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-5988 Filed 3-6-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P