[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18147-18148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7757]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-11-0029; TM-11-02]


Notice of Request for Approval of a New 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 a new

[[Page 18148]]

information collection titled Data Collection for Container 
Availability.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 31, 2011 to be 
assured of consideration.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact April Taylor, 
Transportation Services Division, Transportation and Marketing Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M 
Street, NW.--Room 3017 South, Washington, DC 20036, telephone 202-295-
7374, fax 202-694-5948.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Data Collection for Container Availability.
    OMB Number: 0581-[New].
    Expiration Date of Approval: [THREE YEARS FROM DATE OF OMB 
APPROVAL].
    Type of Request: New request for information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-
1627) directs and authorizes the collection and dissemination of 
marketing information including adequate outlook information, on a 
market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer 
requirements aiding in the maintenance of farm income and to bring 
about a balance between production and utilization.
    As part of the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Transportation 
Services Division (TSD) provides insightful agricultural transportation 
information and analysis to help move agricultural products to market. 
TSD informs, represents, and assists agricultural shippers and 
government policymakers through: Market reports, representation, 
analysis, assistance, and responses to inquiries. TSD collects data for 
its analysis from public resources as well as unique data sources to 
help the agricultural exporters make the most out of the transportation 
options available.
    The new Data Collection for Container Availability will provide 
U.S. agricultural exporters with weekly data detailing the availability 
of containers at select locations around the country. AMS will collect 
these data on a voluntary basis from ocean container carriers and then 
provide these up-to-date data in an aggregate report on its Web site. 
The goal of the report is to provide more transparency in the market 
for the location and availability of marine shipping containers for 
U.S. exporters. Exporters will be able to use this tool to make more 
knowledgeable decisions about which locations provide the best chance 
for finding available containers to move their products overseas.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.61 hours per response.
    Respondents: Ocean Container/Liner Carriers and the Westbound 
Transpacific Stabilization Agreement.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 21.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,092.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 52.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,759.26.
    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 April Taylor, 
Transportation Services Division, Transportation and Marketing Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M 
Street, NW.--Room 3017 South, Washington, DC 20036, telephone 202-295-
7374, fax 202-694-5948. 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.

    Dated: March 28, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7757 Filed 3-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P