[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 236 (Friday, December 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64661-64662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31028]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 236 / Friday, December 6, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 64661]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV96-916-2NC]
Notice of Request for Extension 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 (Pub.L.
104-13), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's
(AMS) intention to request an extension to a currently approved
information collection for Nectarines Grown in California, Marketing
Order No. 916.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 4, 1997 to
be assured of consideration.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Kenneth G. Johnson,
Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Room 2525-
S, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S.
Department of Agriculture, Post Office Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-
6456, telephone: (202) 720-5127, Fax (202) 720-5698; or Terry Vawter,
Marketing Specialist, California Marketing Field Office, Marketing
Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA,
2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California, 93721; telephone:
(209) 487-5901.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Nectarines Grown in California, Marketing Order 916.
OMB Number: 0581-0072.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1997.
Type of Request: Extension of a 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
(AMAA), 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 California nectarine marketing order program, which has been
operating since 1958, authorizes the issuance of grade, size, and
maturity regulations, inspection requirements, and marketing and
production research including paid advertising. Regulatory provisions
apply to nectarines shipped within and out of the area of production to
any market, except those specifically exempted by the marketing order.
The information collection requirements in this request are
essential to carry out the intent of the AMAA, to provide the
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the
California nectarine marketing order program.
The order, and rules and regulations issued thereunder, authorize
the Nectarine Administrative Committee (Committee), the agency
responsible for local administration of the order, to require handlers
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 convenience to persons who
are required to file information with the Committee needed to carry out
the purposes of the Act and the order. These forms require a minimum of
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.
Nectarine growers who are nominated by their peers to serve as
representatives on the Committee must file nomination forms with the
Secretary.
Formal rulemaking amendments to the order must be approved in
referenda conducted by the Secretary. Also, the Secretary may conduct a
continuance referendum to determine industry support for continuation
of the order. Handlers are asked to sign an agreement to indicate their
willingness to abide by the provisions of the order whenever the order
is amended. These forms are included in this request.
These forms 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 AMAA as expressed in the order,
and the rules and regulations issued under the order.
The information collected is used only by authorized
representatives of the USDA, including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable
Division regional and headquarter's staff, and authorized employees of
the Committee. 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 0.933 hours per response.
Respondents: California nectarine producers and for-profit
businesses handling fresh nectarines produced in California.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1131.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.015.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1085 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the functioning of the California
nectarine marketing order program 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. 0581-0072 and Marketing Order No.
916, and be mailed to Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS,
USDA, Post Office Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456.
Comments should reference the docket
[[Page 64662]]
number 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 &
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, room 2525-S.
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: December 2, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-31028 Filed 12-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P