[Federal Register: September 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 178)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52538-52539]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14se07-22]                         

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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 52538]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-PY-07-0101]

 
Notice of Request for an 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 of, and revision to a currently 
approved information collection in support of the Regulations Governing 
the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs.

DATES: Comments received by November 13, 2007 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited 
to submit written comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
 or to David Bowden, Jr., Chief; Standards, 

Promotion & Technology Branch; Poultry Programs, AMS, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0259; Washington, 
DC 20250-0259, (202) 690-3148. Comments should reference the docket 
number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register and will be available for public inspection in the Office of 
the Docket Clerk, Poultry Programs, AMS, USDA, Room 3953-S, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0259 during regular 
business hours, or can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs--7 
CFR part 56.
    OMB Number: 0581-0128.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 1087-
1091, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA) directs and authorizes the 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop standards of quality, 
grades, grading programs, and services which facilitate trading of 
agricultural products and assure consumers of quality products which 
are graded and identified under USDA programs.
    To provide programs and services, section 203(h) of the AMA (7 
U.S.C. 1622(h)) directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
inspect; certify and identify; and identify the grade, class, quality, 
quantity, and condition of agricultural products under such rules and 
regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, including assessment and 
collection of fees for the cost of the service.
    The regulations in 7 CFR part 56 provide a voluntary program for 
grading shell eggs on the basis of U.S. standards, grades and weight 
classes. In addition, the shell egg industry and users of the products 
have requested development and provision of other types of voluntary 
services under these regulations; e.g., contract and specification 
acceptance services and certification of quantity. Voluntary grading 
service is available on a resident basis or on an as-needed bases. The 
AMA requires Agency costs be assessed and collected from respondents 
who request voluntary program services. Information provided during the 
request is used by the Agency to determine cost assessments.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the AMA, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
program. The information request requires personal data, such as name, 
type of business, address and description of service requested.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of USDA (AMS, Poultry Programs' national staff; 
regional directors and their staffs; Federal-State supervisors and 
their staffs; and resident Federal-State graders, which includes State 
agencies) to administer and to conduct and carry out requested grading 
services. The Agency is the primary user of the information. 
Information is also used by authorized State agencies under a 
cooperative agreement with AMS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.238 hours per response.
    Respondents: State or local governments, businesses or other for-
profits, Federal agencies or employees, small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 630.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 23,130.50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 36.72.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,513.64 hours.
    Copies of this information collection may be obtained from David 
Bowden, Jr., Chief, Standards, Promotion, & Technology Branch, at (202) 
690-3148.
    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: David Bowden, Jr., 
Chief, Standards, Promotion & Technology Branch; Poultry Programs, AMS, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 
0259; Washington, DC 20250-0259. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the 
above address and may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.


[[Page 52539]]

    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.

    Dated: September 10, 2007.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-18112 Filed 9-13-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P