[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52771-52772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25703]


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 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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 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. 196 / Tuesday, October 8, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 52771]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV-96-901-1]


Notice of Request for Approval of a Generic Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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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 for a generic information 
collection that will combine several individual marketing order 
information collections into one.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 9, 1996 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Shoshana Avrishon, 
Marketing Specialist, USDA-AMS-F&V--Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456. Tel.: (202) 720-
6467, Fax: (202) 720-5698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Marketing Orders for Vegetables and Specialty Crops.
    OMB Number: Number not assigned yet.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of approval.
    Type of Request: Approval for a generic information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops, in specified 
production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that 
cannot be solved individually. Order regulations help ensure adequate 
supplies of high quality products for consumers 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 
marketing order programs. Under the Act, orders may authorize the 
following: production and marketing research including paid 
advertising, volume regulations, reserves including pools and producer 
allotments, container regulations, and quality control. Production and 
marketing research activities are paid for by assessments levied on 
handlers regulated under the marketing orders.
    Under the marketing orders, producers and handlers are nominated by 
their respective peers. These nominees then serve as representatives on 
their respective committees/boards and must file nomination forms with 
the Secretary.
    Formal rulemaking amendments to the orders must be approved in 
referenda conducted by the Secretary. Also, the Secretary may conduct a 
continuance referendum to determine industry support for continuation 
of these marketing order programs. Handlers are asked to sign an 
agreement to indicate their willingness to abide by the provisions of 
the respective orders whenever an order is amended.
    This information collection will combine: OMB#0581-0069 Irish 
Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and Malheur 
County, Oregon, Marketing Order 945; OMB#0581-0070 Irish Potatoes Grown 
in Washington, Marketing Order 946; OMB#0581-0112 Irish Potatoes Grown 
in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California, and in all Counties in 
Oregon, except Malheur County, Marketing Order 947; OMB#0581-0111 
Potatoes Grown in Colorado, Marketing Order 948; OMB#0581-0084 Irish 
Potatoes Grown in Southeastern United States, Marketing Order 953; 
OMB#0581-0160 Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia, Marketing Order 955; 
OMB#0581-0172 Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of 
Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon, Marketing Order 956; 
OMB#0581-0087 Onions Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and 
Malheur County, Oregon, Marketing Order 958; OMB#0581-0074 Onions Grown 
in South Texas, Marketing Order 959; OMB#0581-0073 Tomatoes Grown in 
Florida, Marketing Order 966; OMB#0581-0076 Melons Grown in South 
Texas, Marketing Order 979; OMB#0581-0144 Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and 
Washington, Marketing Order 982; OMB#0581-0090 Walnuts Grown in 
California, Marketing Order 984; OMB#0581-0077 Domestic Dates Produced 
or Packed in Riverside County, California, Marketing Order 987; 
OMB#0581-0083 Raisins Produced from Grapes Grown in California, 
Marketing Order 989; and, OMB#0581-0099 Dried Prunes Produced in 
California, Marketing Order 993.
    The forms covered under this information collection will continue 
to require the minimum information necessary to effectively carry out 
the requirements of the orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill 
the intent of the Act as expressed in the orders.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the committees/boards and authorized representatives of the USDA, 
including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Division regional and headquarter's 
staff. Authorized committee/board employees are the primary users of 
the information and the AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate Burden Hours: 9,741.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondents: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 40 minutes.
    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 
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 
respond, including use of automated,

[[Page 52772]]

electronic, mechanical, or other technologies.
    Comments should reference this docket number and the appropriate 
marketing order, 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: October 2, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-25703 Filed 10-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P