[Federal Register: March 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 53)]
[Notices]
[Page 14429-14430]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18mr08-31]
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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 14429]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
March 13, 2008.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments
regarding: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO,
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: Sugar Imported for Exports as Refined Sugar or as a Sugar-
Containing Product, or Used in Production of Certain Polyhydric
Alcohols.
Omb Control Number: 0551-0015.
Summary of Collection: Regulation 7 CFR Part 1530 authorizes the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to issue import licenses to enter
raw cane sugar (exempt from the tariff-rate quota for the raw cane
sugar imports and the related requirements) on the condition that an
equivalent quantity of refined sugar be: (1) Exported as refined sugar;
(2) exported as an ingredient in sugar containing products; or (3) used
in production of certain polyhydric alcohols. The purpose of the sugar
import-licensing program is to assist U.S. sugar manufacturers,
refiners, and processors in making U.S. products price competitive on
the world market; and facilitate the use of domestic refining capacity.
Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information to
verify that the world-priced sugar is actually exported and not
diverted onto the domestic market, thereby undermining the objectives
of politically sensitive U.S. sugar policies. This collection enables
USDA to regularly monitor the status of program participants in an
effort to ensure that they remain within Program parameters. Without
the collection, there would be increased opportunity to purposely
divert sugar onto the domestic market.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 200.
Frequency Of Responses: Reporting; Quarterly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 717.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: Specialty Sugar Import Certificates.
Omb Control Number: 0551-0025.
Summary of Collection: The Secretary of Agriculture each year
announces the U.S. sugar import quantity that will be subject to the
tariff-rate quotas, including specialty sugars for each fiscal year
(October 1-September 30). In order to grant licenses, ensure that
imported specialty sugar does not disrupt the current domestic support
program, and maintain administrative control over the program, an
application with certain specific information must be collected from
those who wish to participate in the program established by the
regulation. Importers are required to supply specific information to
the Secretary and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), in order to
be granted a certificate to import specialty sugar. The information is
supplied to U.S. Customs officials in order to certify that the sugar
being imported is ``specialty sugar.''
Need and Use of the Information: The collected information will be
used to: (1) Determine whether applicants for the program meet the
regulation's eligibility criteria; (2) ensure that sugar to be imported
is specialty sugar and meets the requirements of the regulation; (3)
audit participants' compliance with the regulation; and (4) prevent
entry of world-priced program sugar from entering the domestic
commercial market instead of domestic specialty sugar market. Without
the collection of this information the Certifying Authority would not
have any basis on which to make a decision on whether a certificate
should be granted, and would not have the ability to monitor sugar
imports under this program.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 25.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 30.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: Export Assistance Programs.
Omb Control Number: 0551-0031.
Summary of Collection: The Office of Trade Program (OTP) provides
vital services within the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. It facilitates trade contacts between
U.S. exporters and foreign buyers seeking U.S. food and agricultural
products. All of the assistance offered is designed to promote U.S.
agricultural exports by helping American exporters make contact with
export agents, trading companies, importers and foreign buyers thus
creating opportunities to sell their products in overseas markets. The
specific programs covered by this request for OMB information
collection authority are: U.S. Suppliers List, Buyer Alert, Trade
Shows, Foreign Buyers List, Export Directory of U.S. Food Distribution
Companies, Madigan
[[Page 14430]]
Award. The authority for these program falls under 7 U.S. C. Part 1761,
7 U.S.C. Part 5693 and 7 U.S.C. part 1765b. FAS will collect
information using a combination of forms and telephone interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information on
contact names, mailing addresses, telephones, fax, email, and websites.
The main purpose for collecting the information is to foster trade
contacts in an effort to facilitate greater export of U.S. agriculture
food, forestry, and fishery products. The databases are used to recruit
U.S. exporters, importers, and buyers to participate in market
development activities sponsored by USDA. These databases must be
updated periodically to maintain the integrity and usefulness to the
trade community.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 31,910.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 3,632.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-5393 Filed 3-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P