Emergency Letter dated 4/27

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Washington, DC 20250

April 27, 2007

Subject: Request for Expedited Processing of IC - Emerald Ash Borer

Host Material from Canada

To: Margaret A. Malanoski, Desk Officer, OMB

Through: Ruth Brown, Department Clearance Officer, OCIO

APHIS is requesting emergency review, processing, and approval of an information collection activity that is needed in connection with the efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) to noninfested areas of the United States.

This interim rule will establish regulations to prohibit or restrict the importation of certain articles from Canada that present a risk of being infested with EAB. In order to prevent the spread of EAB from Canada into noninfested areas of the United States, we are amending our regulations in part 319 to restrict or prohibit the importation of EAB host material into the United States from Canada.

Foreign phytosanitary certificates and PPQ’s Form 587 (Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products) are used to collect information for this collection.

APHIS is requesting approval of the paperwork clearance package by Friday, May 11, 2007.

Should you desire further information regarding this request, please contact Mr. David Lamb, Import Specialist, PPQ, (301) 734-4312.

Richard L. Dunkle

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

APHIS - Protecting American Agriculture

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