Supporting Statement
Pine Shoot Beetle Host Material from Canada
0579-0257
A. JUSTIFICATION July 2011
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.
APHIS‘ regulations in 7 CFR part 319 prohibit or restrict the importation of certain plants and plant products into the United States to prevent the introduction of plant pests. Subpart-Nursery Stock, Plants, Roots, Bulbs, Seeds, and Other Plant Products
(7 CFR 319.37) through 319.37-14) restricts, among other things, the importation of living plants, plant parts, and seeds for propagation; and Subpart-Logs, Lumber, and Other Unmanufactured Wood Articles (7 CFR 319.40-1 through 319.40-11) governs the importation of various logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood products into the United States. The regulations in both subparts help prevent the introduction and spread of pine shoot beetle, a pest of pine trees, into noninfested areas of the United States and contain several information collection requirements, including additional declarations on certificates and phytosanitary certificates, written statements of origin, and compliance agreements.
APHIS amended the foreign quarantine regulations to restrict the importation of pine shoot beetle (PSB) host material into the United States from Canada. This action was necessary to prevent the introduction and spread of PSB into noninfested areas of the United States.
PSB (tomicuc piniperda) is a pest of pine trees. It can cause damage in weak and dying trees, where reproductive and immature stages of 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.
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.
Canadian Phytosanitary Certificate with an Additional Declaration (foreign federal government) - The accompanying phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration 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 United States destination. The province(s) must be plainly indicated on the restricted articles, or, if applicable, on the outer covering, packaging, or container.
Written Statement (business) - This signed, accurate statement certifies the areas where the regulated articles originated and, if applicable, the 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.
Compliance Agreement (PPQ 519) (business) – The Compliance Agreement is provided for the convenience of persons who are involved in the growing, handling, or moving of regulated articles from quarantined 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 those requirements and the provisions of the compliance agreement.
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 Agreement (PPQ Form 519) is 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 PSB and other plant diseases. APHIS has determined 90 percent of the respondents are small entities.
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, PSB could damage urban ornamental trees and cause economic losses to the timber, Christmas trees, 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.
requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;
in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;
requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;
that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.
There are no special circumstances associated with this information collection.
8. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain th
eir 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 2010:
Pine Valley Farms
1150 Fannie Dorsey Road
Sykeville, MD 21784
410-795-8314
Drakes Crossing Nursery
Barbara Hupp
19774 Grade Road.
Silverton, Oregon 97381
503-873-4932
Santa and Sons Christmas Trees
Mark Rohlfs
24469 Highway 20
Philomath, OR 97370
818-501-8637
On Tuesday, March 15, 2011, pages 13968-13969, 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. During that time, APHIS received one comment from an interested member of the public. This comment did not deal with information collection issues. The submitter wanted to ban all pine trees from Canada, because she felt that the American taxpayer did not want to pay for more surveys.
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 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 hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.
The cost to the public was determined by multiplying the total number of burden hours (94) times the wage per hour rate.
94 X $26.15 = $2,458.10.
$26.15 is the hourly rate derived from the U.S. Department of Labor; Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2009 Report – Occupational Employment and Wages in the United States. See http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.t03.htm.
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 $28,956.00. (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 no change in burden for this 3-year renewal information collection.
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 it collects.
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.
This form is used in eleven collections, therefore, it is not practical to include an OMB expiration date because of the various expiration dates for each collection. APHIS is seeking approval to not display the OMB expiration date on this form.
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.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement |
| Author | lctoran |
| Last Modified By | Williams, James E |
| File Modified | 2011-08-15 |
| File Created | 2010-09-30 |