[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47734-47735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23019]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Docket No. FV-96-303]


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.


[[Page 47735]]


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 an extension for and revision to a 
currently approved information collection in support of the U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Fresh and Processed Fruits and Vegetables.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 12, 1996, 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Frank O'Sullivan, Fresh Products 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Room 2065 South 
Building, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456, (202) 720-2185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: U.S. Standards for Grades of Fresh and Processed Fruits and 
Vegetables.
    OMB Number: 0581-0166.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The U.S. Standards for Grades of Fresh and Processed 
Fruits and Vegetables provide a common trading language to growers, 
packers/shippers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and other 
financially interested parties which will promote a better product and 
create more uniformity throughout the industry.
    The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 1087-1091, as 
amended; 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA) directs and authorizes the 
Department to develop standards of quality, grades, grading programs, 
and services which facilitate trading of agricultural products and 
assure consumers of quality products which are graded and identified 
under USDA programs.
    The AMA also directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, 
and packaging, and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to 
encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices. There is 
a total of 314 U.S. Standards for Grades of Fresh and Processed Fruits, 
Vegetables, and Other Miscellaneous Products.
    The information and collection process is used by the Fruit and 
Vegetable Division prior to developing a proposal, which is a formal 
version of a new or revised standard. This gives the Division the 
opportunity to gather and discuss information from all parts of the 
industry and other interested parties as to the likely impacts of the 
suggested changes or additions to the standard. If this process was not 
possible, the USDA would incur additional costs by rewriting and 
modifying the standards, or even worse, develop a standard that would 
be of no use.
    The information and collection requirements in this request are 
necessary to carry out the intent of the AMA, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to create and revise 
U.S. Standards for Fresh and Processed Fruits and Vegetables that are 
consistent with current cultural and marketing practices.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of the USDA (AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Division's 
national staff; regional directors and their staffs; Federal-State 
supervisors and their staffs; and resident Federal-State graders, which 
includes State agencies). The information is used to administer and to 
conduct and carry out the grading services requested by the respondents 
and for the purpose of developing and maintaining U.S. grade standards. 
The Agency is the primary user of the information, and the secondary 
user is each authorized State agency which has a cooperative agreement 
with AMS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average one hour per response.
    Respondents: State or local governments, businesses or other for-
profit, Federal agencies or employees, small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 930.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: one.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 930 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the function of the Fresh and Processed 
Fruit and Vegetable industries in regard to uniform trading language 
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. 0581-0166 and be sent to USDA in 
care of Frank O'Sullivan at the address above. 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 also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: September 4, 1996.
Eric M. Forman,
Acting Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-23019 Filed 9-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P