SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Plum Pox Compensation.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0159.

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, either independently or in cooperation with the States, to carry out operations or measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard the spread of plant pests, such as plum pox virus (PPV), that are new to or not widely distributed within the United States.

Plum pox is an extremely serious viral disease of plants that can affect many Prunus (stone fruit) species, including plum, peach, apricot, almond, nectarine, and sweet and tart cherry. A number of wild and ornamental Prunus species may also be susceptible to this disease. Infection eventually results in severely reduced fruit production, and the fruit that is produced is often misshapen and blemished. PPV is transmitted under natural conditions by several species of aphids. The long distance spread of PPV occurs by budding and grafting with infected plant material and by farm tools/equipment, and through movement of infected budwood, nursery stock, and other plant parts. There are no known effective methods for treating trees or other plant material infected with PPV, nor are there any known effective preventive treatments. Without effective treatments, the only option for preventing the spread of the disease is the destruction of infected and exposed trees and other infected plant material.

The regulations in “Subpart-Plum Pox” (7 CFR 301.74-301.74-5) quarantine areas of the United States where PPV has been detected, restrict the interstate movement of host material from quarantined areas, and when the Secretary of Agriculture declares an extraordinary emergency, provides for compensation to owners of commercial stone fruit orchards and fruit tree nurseries whose trees or nursery stock were destroyed to eradicate PPV. The regulations require applicants for the payment of compensation to complete required documentation.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of this information collection activity 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 reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.04 hours per response.

Respondents: Owners and affiliates of stone fruit orchards and fruit tree nurseries.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,524.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.

Estimated annual number of responses: 2,548.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 107 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.