Special Need Requests Under the Plant Protection Act - Information Collection Extension

Content

ACTION:

Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the intention of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to request an extension of approval
of an information collection associated with the regulations to allow States to impose prohibitions or restrictions on specific
articles in addition to those required by APHIS to help protect against the introduction and establishment of plant pests.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 22, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2026-0432 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents.

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2026-0432, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville,
Maryland 20705.

Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at regulations.gov 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 special need requests under the Plant Protection Act, contact Mr. Matthew Travis, Director, Biocontrol,
and Forest, Wood and Rangeland Pests and Emergency Domestic Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland
20705; (240) 240-5394. For more information on the information collection reporting process, contact Ms. Sheniqua Harris,
APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2528 or email APHIS.PRA@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Special Need Requests Under the Plant Protection Act.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0291.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to restrict the importation, entry, or interstate movement of plants, plant products,
and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or their dissemination within the United
States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, which administers regulations to implement the PPA. Regulations governing the interstate movement of plants,
plant products, and other articles are contained in 7 CFR part 301, “Domestic Quarantine Notices.” The regulations in “Subpart
A-Preemption and Special Need Requests” allow States or political subdivisions of States to request approval from APHIS to
impose prohibitions or restrictions on the movement in interstate commerce of specific articles that pose a plant health risk
that are in addition to the prohibitions and restrictions imposed by APHIS. This process requires information collection activities,
including a pest data detection survey with a pest risk analysis showing that a pest is not present in a State, or if already
present, the current distribution in the State, and that the pest would harm or injure the environment and/or agricultural
resources of the State or political subdivision.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities for
an additional 3 years.

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 160 hours per response.

Respondents: State governments.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 1.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.

Estimated annual number of responses: 1.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 160 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, this 15th day of April 2026. Kelly Moore, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2026-07661 Filed 4-17-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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