[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80037-80038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31922]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-CN-10-0110; CN-10-007]
Tobacco Report: Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 the currently approved
information collection for Tobacco Report (OMB No. 0581-0004).
[[Page 80038]]
DATES: Comments received by February 22, 2011 will be considered.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Interested persons are invited to
submit written comments concerning this proposal to Shethir Riva,
Chief, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Programs,
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room
2635-S, Washington, DC 20250-0224. Comments should be submitted in
triplicate. Comments may also be submitted electronically through
http://www.regulations.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
http://www.regulations.gov or at the Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS,
USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2635-S, Washington, DC 20250
during regular business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir Riva, Chief, Research and
Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2635-S, Washington, DC 20250-
0224, telephone (202) 720-3193, facsimile (202) 690-1718, or e-mail at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Tobacco Report.
OMB Number: 0581-0004.
Expiration Date of Approval: 06/30/2011.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The Tobacco Statistics Act of 1929 (7 U.S.C. 501-508)
provides for the collection and publication of statistics of tobacco by
USDA with regard to quantity of leaf tobacco in all forms in the United
States and Puerto Rico, owned by or in the possession of dealers,
manufacturers, and others with the exception of the original growers of
the tobacco.
The statistics shall show the quantity of the tobacco in such
detail as to types, as USDA shall deem to be practical and necessary
and shall be summarized as of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1
of each year and are due within 15 days of the summarized dates.
The information furnished under the provisions of this Act shall be
used only for statistical purposes for which it is supplied. No
publication shall be made by USDA whereby the data furnished by any
particular establishment can be identified, nor shall anyone other than
the sworn employees of USDA be allowed to examine the individual
reports.
The regulations governing the Tobacco Stocks and Standards Act (7
CFR part 30) issued under the Tobacco Statistics Act (7 U.S.C. 501-508)
specifically address the reporting requirements. Tobacco in leaf form
or stems is reported by types of tobacco and whether stemmed or
unstemmed. Tobacco in sheet form shall be segregated as to whether for
cigar wrapper, cigar binder, for cigarettes, or for other products.
Tobacco stocks reporting is mandatory. The basic purpose of the
information collection is to ascertain the total supply of
unmanufactured tobacco available to domestic manufacturers and to
calculate the amount consumed in manufactured tobacco products. This
data was also used for the calculation of production quotas for
individual types of tobacco and for price support calculations until
repealed in 2005.
The Quarterly Report of Manufacture and Sales of Snuff, Smoking and
Chewing Tobacco is voluntary. Prior to 1965, information on the
manufacture and sale of snuff, smoking and chewing tobacco products was
available from Treasury Department publications on the collection of
taxes. With repeal of the Federal tax in 1965, the industry requested
that the collection of basic data be continued to maintain the
statistical series and all major manufacturers agreed to furnish
information. Federal taxes were re-imposed in 1985 for snuff and
chewing tobacco and the Treasury Department began reporting data on
these products, but not in the detail desired by the industry. Data
from this report was also used in calculations to determine the
production quotas of types of tobacco used in these products until
repealed in 2005.
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) directs
and authorizes USDA to collect, tabulate and disseminate statistics on
marketing agricultural products including market supplies, storage
stocks, quantity, quality, and condition of such products in various
positions in the marketing channel, utilization of sub-products,
shipments, and unloads.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.90 hours per response.
Respondents: Primarily tobacco dealers and manufacturers including
small businesses or organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 57.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 228.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 204.
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 submitted electronically
through http://www.regulations.gov. Comments also may be sent to
Shethir Riva, Chief, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW., Room 2635-S, Washington, DC 20250-0224. All comments received will
be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the
same address or through http://www.regulations.gov.
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: December 15, 2010.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-31922 Filed 12-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P