SSPSBHostMaterial0579-0257

March 2008

Supporting Statement

Pine Shoot Beetle Host Material From Canada

OMB NO. 0579-0257

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests and noxious weeds not widely distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests when eradication is feasible.

Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 – 7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant pests to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or their dissemination within the United States.

Pine Shoot beetle (Tomicuc piniperda) is a pest of pine trees. It can cause damage in weak and dying trees, where reproductive and immature stages of pine shoot beetle (PSB) occur, and in the new growth of healthy trees. During “maturation feeding,” young beetles tunnel into the center of pine shoots (usually in the current year’s growth), causing stunted and distorted growth in host trees. PSB also acts as a vector of several diseases of pine trees. Adult PSB can fly at least 1 kilometer. In addition, infested trees and pine products are often transported long distances, which can result in the establishment of PSB populations far from the location of the original host tree. PSB can damage urban ornamental trees and can cause economic losses to the timber, Christmas tree, and nursery industries.

APHIS is asking OMB to approve its use of this information collection, for 3 more years, associated with its efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of pine shoot beetle into noninfested areas of the United States

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

Compliance Agreement (PPQ 519) - Compliance agreements are provided for the convenience of persons who are involved in the growing, handling, or moving of regulated articles from quarantines areas. A person may enter into a compliance agreement when an inspector has determined that the person requesting the compliance agreement is knowledgeable regarding the requirements of the regulations and the person has agreed to comply with the requirements of the regulations and the provisions of the compliance agreement.

Written Statement - This signed, accurate statement certifies the area or areas where the regulated articles originated and, if applicable, the area or areas they were moved through prior to importation. The statement may be printed directly on the documentation accompanying the shipment of regulated articles or it may be provided on a separate document. The statement does not require the signature of a public officer of a national plant protection organization; exporters may sign the document.

Canadian Phytosanitary Certificate (foreign) - The accompanying phytosanitary certificate of inspection must specify the Canadian province where the restricted articles originated, and, if applicable, the province(s) the restricted articles were moved through if different from the province of origin and the U.S. destination of the restricted articles must be plainly indicated on the restricted articles, or, if applicable, on the outer covering, packaging, or container.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

APHIS has no control or influence over when foreign countries will automate Canadian Phytosanitary Certificates.

Compliance Agreements (PPQ Form 519) are automated and posted at www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose described in item 2 above.

The information APHIS collects is exclusive to its mission to prevent the introduction of plant pests and plant diseases into the United States. The information is not available from any other source.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

The information APHIS collects is the minimum needed to protect the United States from the introduction of pine shoot beetle and other plant diseases.

APHIS has no small entities involved with this information collection.

6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

If APHIS did not collect this information or if APHIS collected this information less frequently, pine shoot beetle could damage urban ornamental trees and cause economic losses to the timber, Christmas tree, and nursery industries.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the general information collection guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.

This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines established in 5 CFR 1320.5.

8. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting form, and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice, soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB.

The following individuals were consulted during 2007-2008:

Lanager’s Tree Farm

Giles L. Lanager (Owner)

P.O. Box 290

Hyde, PA 16843

(814) 765-0251

R & J Peters Christmas Trees

Robert A. Peters (part-owner)

R.D. # 3, Box 11

Clearfield, PA 16830

(814) 765-1433

Kathleen Johnson

Oregon Department of Agriculture

635 Capital Street, NE

Salem, Oregon 97310

(503) 986-4635

On Thursday, October 4, 2007, pages 56718-56719, APHIS published in the Federal Register a 60-day notice seeking public comments on its plans to request a 3-year renewal of this collection of information. No comments from the public were received.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than reenumeration of contractors or grantees.

This information collection activity involves no payments or gifts to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in stature, regulation, or agency policy.

No additional assurance of confidentiality is provided with this information collection. However, the confidentiality of information is protected under 5 U.S.C. 552a.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and others that are considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

This information collection activity asks no questions of a personal or sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated.

. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I.

See APHIS Form 71 for hour burden estimates.

. Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hourly burden for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.

94 hours X $15.00 estimated annualized cost per hour = $1,410.00

The hourly rate is derived from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics June 2003 Report – National Compensation Survey, Occupational Wages in the United States, July 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncb10539.pdf

13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information, (do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in items 12 and 14). The cost estimates should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component annualized over its expected useful life; and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component.

There is zero annual cost burden associated with capital and start-up, operation and maintenance, and purchase of services in connection with this program.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Provide a description of the method used to estimate cost and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

The estimated cost to the Federal Government is $3,911.87. (See APHIS Form 79)

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.

There is an adjustment of 15 hours due to a change in hours per response time on the compliance agreement form (PPQ 519). Previously, the hours recorded were 0.500 which was incorrect. The correct time per response should be 1.25 hours which increases the total hours from 79 to 94.

16. For collections of information whose results are planned to be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.

APHIS has no plans to tabulate or publish the information collected.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

If forms were to be discarded because of an outdated OMB expiration date, but otherwise usable, higher printing costs would be incurred by the Federal Government. Therefore, APHIS is seeking approval to not display the OMB expiration date on its forms.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act.”

APHIS is able to certify compliance with all the provisions in the Act.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.

Statistical methods are not used in this information collection.