[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 88 (Monday, May 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20209-20210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11155]



 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 88 / Monday, May 6, 1996 / Notices  

[[Page 20209]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV95-955-3]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed Collection: Comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention 
to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved 
information collection for Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia, Marketing 
Order No. 955.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 5, 1996 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Tom Tichenor, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, F & V, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2523-S, 
Washington, D.C., 20090-6456, Telephone (202) 720-6862 or FAX (202) 
720-5698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia, Marketing Order No. 955.
    OMB Number: 0581-0160.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 29, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of 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 
(Act), 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 Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
Vidalia onion marketing order program, which has been operating since 
1990. The order authorizes production and marketing research and 
development projects, including paid advertising. The research and 
promotion activities are paid for by assessments levied on handlers of 
Vidalia onions.
    The order, and rules and regulations issued thereunder, authorize 
the Vidalia Onion Committee (Committee), the agency responsible for 
local administration of the order, to require handlers and growers to 
submit certain information. Much of this information is compiled in 
aggregate and provided to the industry to assist in marketing 
decisions.
    The Committee has developed forms as a means for persons to file 
required information with the Committee relating to onion supplies, 
shipments, dispositions, and other information needed to effectively 
carry out the purpose of the Act and order. Vidalia onions may be 
shipped beginning mid April and ending in mid July, and these forms are 
utilized accordingly. A USDA form is used to allow growers to vote on 
amendments to or continuance of the marketing order. In addition, 
Vidalia onion growers and grower/handlers who are nominated by their 
peers to serve as representatives on the Committee must file nomination 
forms with the Secretary.
    The forms covered under this information collection require the 
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements 
of the order, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the 
Act as expressed in the order.
    The size of the Vidalia onion industry has decreased in recent 
years. The Committee estimates that there are 195 producers and 109 
handlers of Vidalia onions currently operating in the production area. 
These numbers are lower than those used in the previous (1993) 
information collection burden and, thus, change the burden for all but 
one of the forms subject to this information collection. All of the 
handlers are also producers of Vidalia onions.
    The burden for the Vidalia Onion Handler Report is changed in this 
information collection. Under the order, handlers are responsible for 
reporting to the Committee acquisitions of onions and for submitting an 
assessment payment based on the volume of onions shipped. The form is 
used by each handler to report the volume of onions acquired, handled 
and shipped by the handler, and the assessment due on the onions 
shipped. The Committee uses this information to verify the handler's 
assessment obligation.
    The information requested on this form was increased in 1993 to 
include the names of producers and other handlers who the respondent 
purchased onions from, sold onions to, or packed onions for, during the 
monthly reporting period. The revised form also asks for the location 
and quantity of any onions placed into storage during the reporting 
period. This additional information is needed for compliance purposes, 
and will enable the Committee to better determine who is responsible 
for paying assessments on any particular lot of onions. However the 
time needed to complete the form was not correspondingly increased. 
This information collection increases the burden from 5 minutes to 20 
minutes to complete the form. The total information collection burden 
has been adjusted accordingly.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the Committee and authorized representatives of the USDA, including 
AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Division regional and headquarter's staff. 
Authorized Committee employees and the industry are the primary users 
of the information and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .30 hours (18 minutes) per 
response.
    Respondents: Vidalia onion growers and handlers and two public 
members

[[Page 20210]]

in the designated production area in Georgia.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 197 (195 growers/ handlers and 1 
public member and 1 alternate public member).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 496 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the functioning of the Vidalia onion 
marketing order program; (2) the accuracy of the collection burden 
estimate and the validity of methodology and assumptions used in 
estimating the burden of 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 electronic 
technologies.
    Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0160 and Vidalia Onion 
Marketing Order No. 955, and be mailed to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2523-S, Washington, 
D.C., 20090-6456. Comments should reference the docket number and the 
date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All 
comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office 
of the Docket Clerk during regular USDA business hours at 14th and 
Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C., Room 2523 South Building.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: April 30, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-11155 Filed 5-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P