[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7464-7465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4504]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Docket No. FV95-948]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision 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 (Pub. 
L. 104-13), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's 
(AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently 
approved information collection for Irish Potatoes Grown in Colorado, 
Marketing Order 948.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 29, 1996 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Teresa L. Hutchinson, 
Marketing Specialist, Northwest Marketing Field Office, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1220 SW Third Avenue, Room 369, Portland, OR 97204, Tel: 
(503) 326-2724, Fax (503) 326-7440. 

[[Page 7465]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Irish Potatoes Grown in Colorado, Marketing Order 948.
    OMB Number: 0581-0111.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in a 
specified production area, to work together to solve marketing problems 
that cannot be solved individually. Order regulations help ensure 
adequate supplies of high quality product and adequate returns to 
producers. Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), industries enter into marketing 
order programs. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to oversee 
the order operations and issue regulations recommended by a committee 
of representatives from each commodity industry.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the AMAA, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
Colorado marketing order program, which has been operating since 1941.
    Under the Colorado potato marketing order, potatoes sent to 
processing are exempt from inspection and grade requirements but must 
be shipped under a special purpose shipment exemption. To ensure high 
quality fresh market shipments, producers must notify the Colorado 
Potato Committee (committee) of such special purpose shipments. 
Further, any business which operates as a potato canner, freezer, 
processor, or pre-peeler must register with the committee. These forms 
enable the committee, and thus, the Secretary to better monitor exempt 
shipments and ensure compliance with provisions of the marketing order 
and the AMAA.
    Potato producers and handlers who are nominated by their peers to 
serve as representatives on the committee must file nomination forms 
with the Secretary.
    Formal rulemaking amendments to the order must be approved in 
referenda conducted by the Secretary. Also, the Secretary may conduct a 
continuance referendum to determine industry support for continuation 
of the order. Such referenda ballots are included in this request.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of the USDA, including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable 
Division regional and headquarter's staff, and authorized employees of 
the committee. AMS is the primary user of the information and 
authorized committee employees are the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.1494 hours per response.
    Respondents: Potato producers and for-profit businesses handling 
fresh and processed potatoes produced in Colorado.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 526.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.074.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 556 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the functioning of the Colorado marketing 
order program and USDA's oversight of that program; (2) the accuracy of 
the collection burden estimate and the validity of methodology and 
assumptions used in estimating the burden on respondents; (3) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information requested; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden, including use of automated or 
electronic technologies.
    Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0111 and the Colorado 
Marketing Order No. 948, and be sent to USDA in care of Teresa 
Hutchinson, Marketing Specialist, Northwest Marketing Field Office, 
Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1220 SW Third Avenue, Room 369, Portland, OR 
97204. 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: February 22, 1996.
Martha B. Ransom,
Acting Deputy Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-4504 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P