[Federal Register: October 9, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 196)]
[Notices]
[Page 58300-58301]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09oc03-28]
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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.
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[[Page 58300]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. CN-03-006]
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget, for an extension for and revision to a currently
approved information collection for the National Research, Promotion,
and Consumer Information Programs.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 8, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested persons are invited to
submit written comments concerning this notice to Whitney A. Rick,
Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0224, telephone (202)
720-2259 and facsimile (202) 690-1718. Comments should be submitted in
triplicate. Comments may also be submitted electronically to cottoncomments@usda.gov. All comments should reference the docket
number and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All
comments received will be made available for public inspection at
Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2641-S, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20250 during regular business hours. A copy of this
notice may be found at http://www.usda.gov/cotton/rulemaking.htm.
Whitney Rick, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton Program, AMS,
USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-
0224, telephone (202) 720-2259, facsimile (202) 690-1718, or e-mail at whitney.rick@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information
Programs.
OMB Number: 0581-0093.
Expiration Date of Approval: Current expiration date is 07/31/04.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: National research and promotion programs are designed to
strengthen the position of a commodity in the marketplace, maintain and
expand existing domestic and foreign markets, and develop new uses and
markets for specified agricultural commodities. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture has the responsibility for implementing and overseeing
programs for a variety of commodities including cotton, dairy, eggs,
beef, pork, soybeans, honey, potatoes, watermelons, mushrooms, hass
avocados, popcorn, and peanuts. The enabling legislation includes the
Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 2901-2911]; Cotton
Research and Promotion Act of 1966 [7 U.S.C. 2101-2118]; the Dairy
Production Stabilization Act of 1983 [7 U.S.C. 4501-4514]; the Fluid
Milk Promotion Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6401-6417]; the Egg Research and
Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 2701-2718]; the Pork Promotion,
Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 4801-4819]; the
Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C.
6301-6311]; the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information
Act, as amended [7 U.S.C. 4601-4613]; the Potato Research and Promotion
Act [7 U.S.C. 2611-2627]; the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act [7
U.S.C. 4901-4916]; the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and
Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7801-7813]; the Mushroom Promotion, Research,
and Consumer Information Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6101-6112]; the Popcorn
Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7481-7491];
and the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 [7
U.S.C. 7411-7425].
These programs carry out projects relating to research, consumer
information, advertising, sales promotion, producer information, market
development, and product research to assist, improve, or promote the
marketing, distribution, and utilization of their respective
commodities. Approval of the programs is required through referendum of
those who would be covered. Industry boards administer the programs.
These boards usually composed of producer, handler, processor, and in
some cases, importer and public members, are appointed by the Secretary
of Agriculture to administer the programs. The funding for such
programs is from assessments on designated industry segments. The
appointed boards are responsible for collecting assessments from the
affected persons covered under these programs.
The Secretary also approves the boards' budgets, plans, and
projects. These responsibilities have been delegated to the
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The applicable commodity program
areas within AMS have direct oversight of the respective programs.
The information collection requirements in this request are
essential to carry out the intents of the various Acts authorizing such
programs, thereby providing a means of administering the programs. The
objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the
following: (1) Funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2)
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the
enabling legislation; and (3) the board's administration of the
programs conforms to USDA policy. The applicable commodity programs
within AMS have direct oversight of these freestanding programs. The
forms covered under this collection require the minimum information
necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the respective
orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intents of the Acts
as expressed in the orders. The information collected is used only by
authorized employees of the various boards and authorized employees of
USDA.
The boards administering the various programs utilize a variety of
forms to carry out the responsibilities. Such forms may include reports
concerning status information such as handler and
[[Page 58301]]
importer reports; transaction reports; exemption from assessment forms
and reimbursement forms; forms and information concerning referenda
including ballots; forms and informaiton concerning board nominations
and selection and acceptance statements; certification of industry
organizations; and recordkeeping requirements. The forms and
information covered under this information collection require the
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements
of the programs and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the
applicable authorities.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .08 hours per response.
Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, and/or importers of a
variety of agricultural commodities.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 321,098.
Estimated Number of Responses: 4,469,027.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 13.9.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Estimated total
annual burden is 350,920 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Whitney A. Rick,
Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224,
Room 2641-S, 1400 Independence Ave., SW. Washington, DC 20250-0224, or by e-mail at cottoncomments@usda.gov. All comments received will be
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the
same address.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
AMS is committed to implementation of the Government Paperwork
Elimination Act, which provides for the use of information resources to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of governmental operations,
including providing the public with the option of submitting
information or transacting business electronically to the extent
possible.
Dated: October 6, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-25619 Filed 10-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P