Notice2026-18022
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection: Environmental Monitoring
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 3, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
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 environmental monitoring.
Full Text
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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 56615-56616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18022]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2026-0435]
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection: Environmental Monitoring
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 environmental monitoring.
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">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Enter APHIS-2026-0435 in the Search field. Select
the Documents tab, then select
[[Page 56616]]
the Comment button in the list of documents.
<bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send your comment
to Docket No. APHIS-2026-0435, 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> 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 environmental
monitoring, contact our environmental monitoring team: Ms. Robin
Mullins, Biological Scientist-Staff Officer, Permitting and Compliance
Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#13617c717a7d3d7e667f7f7a7d6053666077723d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b796469626525667e67676265784b7e786f6a256c647d">[email protected]</span></a>; (301) 550-
3654, or Mr. Kai Caraher, Biological Scientist-Staff Officer,
Permitting and Compliance Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#305b51591e5351425158554270454354511e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6209030b4c010310030a071022171106034c050d14">[email protected]</span></a>; (301) 851-2345. For information on the
information collection reporting process, contact Ms. Sheniqua Harris,
APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2528; or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdfcedf5f4ee93edeffcfdc8ced9dc93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b2a3b232238453b392a2b1e180f0a450c041d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Environmental Monitoring.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0117.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership in
ensuring the health and care of animals and plants, improves
agricultural productivity and competitiveness, and contributes to the
national economy and the public health.
APHIS is committed to accomplishing its mission in a manner that
promotes and protects the integrity of the environment. This includes
APHIS' compliance with all applicable environmental statutes and
regulations including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR
part 1b).
APHIS engages in environmental monitoring for certain activities
that we conduct to control or eradicate agricultural pests and
diseases. We monitor those activities that have the greatest potential
for harm to the human environment to ensure that the mitigation
measures developed to avoid that harm are enforced and effective. In
many cases, monitoring is required where APHIS programs are conducted
close to habitats of endangered and threatened species. This monitoring
is developed in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior's
Fish and Wildlife Service, in compliance with the Endangered Species
Act (50 U.S.C. 17.11 and 17.12).
APHIS field personnel and State cooperators jointly use an APHIS-
provided environmental monitoring form to collect information
concerning the effects of pesticide use in these sensitive areas. The
goal of environmental monitoring is to track the potential impact that
APHIS activities may have on the environment and to use this knowledge
in making any necessary adjustments in future program actions.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3
years. APHIS has amended this information collection by increasing the
Estimated Annual Number of Responses and the estimated Annual Burden on
Respondents.
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 0.23 hours per response.
Respondents: Growers, pesticide appliers, and State department of
agriculture personnel.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 11.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.
Estimated annual number of responses: 31.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 7.0 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. 2026-18022 Filed 9-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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