[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60712-60713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24627]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS-DA-10-0070; DA-10-06]
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 for the National Research, Promotion,
and Consumer Information Programs.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 30, 2010.
Additional Information: Interested persons are invited to submit
written comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to
Whitney A. Rick, Promotion and Research Branch; Dairy Programs, AMS,
U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop
0233; Washington, DC 20250-0233, (202) 720-6909. 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 Promotion and Research Branch, Dairy Programs, AMS, USDA, Room
2958-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0233,
during regular business hours, or can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information
Programs. OMB Number: 0581-0093. Expiration Date, as approved by OMB:
11/30/2013.
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. USDA has the
responsibility for implementing and overseeing programs for a variety
of commodities including beef, blueberries, cotton, dairy, eggs, fluid
milk, Hass avocados, honey, lamb, mangos, mushrooms, peanuts, popcorn,
pork, potatoes, sorghum, soybeans, and watermelons. 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
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]; the Pork Promotion,
Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 4801-4819];
the Potato Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 2611-2627]; the Soybean
Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 6301-6311];
the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 4901-4916]; and the
Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 [7 U.S.C.
7411-7425] (which governs the blueberry, honey, lamb, mango, peanut and
sorghum programs). These programs appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations at 7 CFR, parts 1150 and 1160, and parts 1205 through 1260.
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
affected parties. The programs are administered by industry boards
composed of producer, handler, processor, and in some cases, importer
and public members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Program
funding is generated through assessments on designated industry
segments.
The Secretary also approves the board's budgets, plans, and
projects. These responsibilities have been delegated to 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 programs
conforms to USDA policy. 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 orders. The information
collected is used only by authorized employees of the various boards
and authorized employees of USDA.
The various boards utilize a variety of forms including; reports
concerning status information such as handler and importer reports;
transaction reports; exemption from assessment forms and reimbursement
forms; forms and information concerning referenda including ballots;
forms and information 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
[[Page 60713]]
to fulfill the intent of the applicable authorities.
As part of this renewal collection for the National Research,
Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs, AMS is merging the
``Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order, 0581-0246;''
``Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Program, 0581-0198;''
``Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education
and Industry Information Order, Referendum Procedures, 0581-0245;'' and
``Establishment of the New Honey Packers and Importers R&P Program,
0581-0247.'' Upon approval of this revision of 0581-0093, AMS will
request a Discontinuation Request for 0581-0246, 0581-0198, 0581-0245,
and 0581-0247 to retire these collections. This action will keep all
research and promotion collections under one generic collection since
similar forms are used to collect information and to prevent
duplication of burden.
AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, which
requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically
to the maximum extent possible.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.54 hours per response.
Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, importers, and others
in the marketing chain of a variety of agricultural commodities, and
recordkeepers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 325,579.
Estimated Total Annual Reponses: 896,027.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.75.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 334,711.71 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Whitney
A. Rick, Research and Promotion Branch; Dairy Programs at (202) 720-
6909.
Comments may be submitted regarding, but is not limited to: (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.
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. 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.
Dated: September 27, 2010.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-24627 Filed 9-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P