[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24759-24760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12326]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) intention to request 
approval for a new information collection, the Fruit, Vegetable and 
Specialty Crop Marketing Order Handlers Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 22, 1996 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rich Allen, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, D.C. 20250-2000, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Order Handlers 
Survey.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to conduct an information 
collection.
    Abstract: To improve its compliance under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has 
contracted with the National Agricultural Statistics Service to conduct 
a Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Order Handlers Survey. 
Marketing Agreements and orders are authorized under the Agriculture 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (AMAA) (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The AMAA 
permits regulation of certain agricultural commodities for the purpose 
of providing orderly marketing conditions in interstate commerce and 
improving returns to producers. AMS is charged with the oversight 
responsibilities for these programs.
    Marketing agreement and order programs have a unique characteristic 
in government regulatory programs; they are the result of the joint 
effort of government and industry representatives to improve the

[[Page 24760]]

marketing of agricultural commodities. An administrative committee, 
comprised of growers and handlers appointed by the Secretary of 
Agriculture, locally administers each order. A major function of these 
administrative committees is to recommend to the Secretary 
administrative rules and order amendments. AMS reviews administrative 
committee recommendations for regulatory action and accompanying 
justifications for consistency with the regulatory authorities provided 
in the marketing order, as well as Department policy and the potential 
impact on small businesses. Issuance of marketing order regulations 
follows procedures prescribed by the Administrative Procedure Act. In 
addition, the AMS must adhere to a number of other statutes in issuing 
rulemaking, including the RFA.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory and informational 
requirements to the size and scale of business entities in a manner 
that is consistent with the objectives of the rule and applicable 
statutes. The RFA requires agencies to identify regulatory situations 
in which there is (or will be) a significant economic impact, as 
measured by costs and other factors, on a substantial number of small 
entities. The survey results will provide information on handler costs, 
revenues, and other related factors which will allow AMS to evaluate 
impacts of proposed rulemaking recommendations on handlers who may be 
classified as small entities under the RFA.
    These data will be collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 
2204(a). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority 
are governed by section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. 
2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-
aggregated data provided by respondents.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Handlers (e.g., shippers and others as defined under 
the respective programs) regulated under marketing orders.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,650.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 825 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Larry Gambrell, the Agency OMB 
Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-5778.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to: Larry Gambrell, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, 14th and Independence Ave., SW, Room 4162 South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-2000. All response to this notice will 
be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, May 8, 1996.
Donald M. Bay,
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12326 Filed 5-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-M