[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 52772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25705]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[DA-96-14]


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

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 for the Dairy Inspection and 
Grading Program.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 9, 1996 to be assured 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Office of the Director, USDA/
AMS/Dairy Division, Room 2968-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 
20090-6456. Comments received will be available for public inspection 
at this location during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Tracy Schonrock, USDA/AMS/Dairy 
Division, Dairy Grading Branch, Room 2750-South Building, P.O. Box 
96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; Tel: (202) 720-3171, Fax (202) 720-
2643.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of 
Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products--Record Keeping. OMB Number: 
0581-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946 directs the 
Department to develop programs which will provide and enable a more 
orderly marketing of agricultural products. One of these programs is 
the USDA voluntary inspection and grading program for dairy products 
where these dairy products are graded according to U.S. grade standards 
by a USDA grader. The dairy products so graded may be identified with 
the USDA grade mark. Dairy processors, buyers, retailers, institutional 
users, and consumers have requested that such a program be developed to 
assure the uniform quality of dairy products purchased. In order for 
any service program to perform satisfactorily, there must be written 
guides and rules, which in this case are regulations for the provider 
and user. For the above reasons, these regulations were developed and 
issued under the authority of the Act. These regulations are essential 
to administer the program to meet the needs of the user and to carry 
out the purposes of the Act.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the AMA, to insure that dairy 
products are produced under sanitary conditions and that buyers are 
purchasing a quality product. In order for the Regulations Governing 
the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products 
to serve the government, industry, and the consumer, laboratory test 
results must be recorded.
    Respondents are not required to submit information to the agency. 
The records are to be evaluated by a USDA inspector at the time of an 
inspection. As an off-setting benefit, the records required by USDA are 
also records which are routinely used by the inspected facility for 
their own supervisory and quality control purposes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this Record keeping 
is estimated to average 3.002 hours per year per individual record 
keeper.
    Record Keepers: Dairy products manufacturing facilities.
    Estimated Number of Record Keepers: 508.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Record Keepers: 1525 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of the 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency; (2) the accuracy of the collection burden estimate and the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used in estimating the 
burden on record keepers; (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. 0581-0110 and the Dairy 
Inspection and Grading Program, and be sent to USDA in care of the 
Office of the Director, USDA/AMS/Dairy Division, Room 2968-S, P.O. Box 
96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456. Comments received will be available 
for public inspection at this location during regular business hours.
    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: September 26, 1996.
Richard M. McKee,
Director, Dairy Division.
[FR Doc. 96-25705 Filed 10-07-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P