[Federal Register: December 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 231)] [Notices] [Page 66525] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02de98-40] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== [[Page 66525]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Foreign Agricultural Service Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection agency: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA. action: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- summary: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection procedure. This information is contained in a petition which may be filed with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting emergency relief from increased, injurious imports of certain perishable products entering the United States duty-free from beneficiary countries under the Andean Trade Preference Act. dates: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February 1, 1999 to be assured consideration. addresses: Mail or deliver comments to Stephen C. Hammond, Director, Import Policies and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, Stop 1021, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-1021, (202) 720-2916. for further information contact: Diana Wanamaker, Stop 1021, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-1021, (202) 720-1330. supplementary information: Title: Emergency Relief from Duty-Free Imports of Perishable Products from Andean Countries. OMB Number: 0551-0033. Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 1999. Type of Request: Extension for a currently approved information collection. Abstract: The Andean Trade Preference Act (Pub. L. 102-182, 105 Stat. 1236 (19 U.S.C. 3201 et. seq.) (the ``Act''), authorizes the President to proclaim duty-free treatment for imports from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, except for certain specifically excluded products. Section 204(e) of the Act provides, in part, that if a petition is filed with the United States International Trade Commission pursuant to the provisions of section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2251), regarding a perishable product and alleging injury from imports from beneficiary countries, then a petition may also be filed with Secretary of Agriculture requesting that emergency relief be granted by the President. Under 7 CFR 1540.43, an entity seeking emergency relief may submit a request to the administrator, FAS, providing appropriate information and data to permit the Secretary of Agriculture to make a determination whether to recommend to the President to take emergency action. The request should contain a description of the imported perishable product concerned and the country of origin; data showing that increased imports of such perishable product are the substantial cause of serious injury, or the threat of serious injury, to the domestic industry producing a perishable product like or directly competitive with the imported product; and provide a statement indicating why emergency action would be warranted. The information collected would be used by FAS to prepare an assessment that would assist the Secretary in making his determination. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at $1,106. Respondents: Non-profit institutions, businesses, or farms. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 46 hours. Copies of the information collection can be obtained from Kimberly Chisley, the Agency Collection Coordinator, at (202) 720-2568. REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS: The public is invited to submit comments and suggestions to the above address regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any other aspect of this collection of information. Comments on issues covered by the Paperwork Reduction Act are most useful to OMB if received within 30 days of publication of the Notice and Request for Comments, but must be submitted no later than 60 days from the date of publication to be assured consideration. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also be a matter of public record. Signed at Washington, DC, on November 27, 1998. Lon Hatamiya, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service. [FR Doc. 98-32128 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-10-M