Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Irradiation Treatment; Location of Facilities in the Southern United States

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the location of irradiation treatment facilities in the United States.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56616-56617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18021]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2026-1223]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Irradiation Treatment; Location of Facilities 
in the Southern United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and 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 a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the regulations for the location 
of irradiation treatment facilities in the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 2, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. 
Enter APHIS-2026-1223 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2026-1223, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>

[[Page 56617]]

or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1620 of the USDA South 
Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. 
Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations for 
the location of irradiation treatment facilities in the United States, 
contact Mr. Todd Dutton, Assistant Director, Plant Health Programs, 
PPQ, APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 851-2348. 
For more detailed information on the information collection, contact 
Ms. Sheniqua Harris, APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at 
(301) 851-2528 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d6c7d65647e037d7f6c6d585e494c034a425b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3170617978621f61637071444255501f565e47">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Irradiation Treatment; Location of Facilities in the 
Southern United States.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0383.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The regulations contained in 7 CFR part 305 (referred to 
below as the regulations) set out the general requirements for 
performing treatments and certifying or approving treatment facilities 
for fruits, vegetables, and other articles to prevent the introduction 
or dissemination of plant pests or noxious weeds into or through the 
United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture administers these regulations.
    Section 305.9 provides generic criteria for new irradiation 
treatment facilities in the United States to be located anywhere in the 
United States, subject to approval. APHIS allows the irradiation 
treatment of certain imported fruit from various countries upon arrival 
in the United States. The regulations facilitate the importation of 
commodities requiring irradiation treatment while continuing to provide 
protection against the introduction of pests of concern into the United 
States.
    The information collection activities associated with the location 
of irradiation facilities include request for initial certification and 
inspection of facility, certification and recertification, denial and 
withdrawal of certification, compliance agreements, irradiation 
facilities treating imported articles, irradiation treatment framework 
equivalency workplan, irradiation facilities notification, 
recordkeeping, facility contingency plan, letter of concurrence or non-
agreement, treatment arrangements, pest management plan, and facility 
layout map. In addition, each facility must provide APHIS with an 
updated map identifying places where horticultural or other crops are 
grown within 4 square miles of the facility.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, for 
an additional 3 years. APHIS has amended this information collection by 
decreasing the estimated annual number of respondents and responses. In 
addition, APHIS has decreased the total burden hours due to APHIS 
moving PPQ Form 519 activity to the new Common Form Information 
Collection.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the 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 
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 burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.20 hours per response.
    Respondents: Irradiation facilities in the United States, State 
governments, importers, and foreign government and national plant 
protection organization officials.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 19.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 16.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 305.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 976 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the 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, 24th day of August 2026.
Kelly Moore,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-18021 Filed 9-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P


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