[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41921-41922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20460]


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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 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 149 / Monday, August 4, 1997 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV97-930-3 NC]


Notice of Request for 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 a revision to a currently approved 
information collection for tart cherries grown in the States of 
Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and 
Wisconsin, Marketing Order No. 930.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 3, 1997 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Kenneth G. Johnson, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. 
Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington DC 20090, Tel: (202) 720-5053, Fax 
(202) 720-5698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, Marketing Order 
No. 930.
    OMB Number: 0581-0177.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1997.
    Type of Request: Revision and approval of the collection of 
information under the marketing order for tart cherries.
    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 (7 
U.S.C. 601-674), (AMAA), as amended, industries enter into marketing 
order programs. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to oversee 
the orders' operations and issue regulations recommended by a committee 
of representatives from each commodity industry.
    Under the order, the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) 
was established. The Board is the organization responsible for local 
administration of the marketing order.
    The Order is administered by the 18-member Board, comprised of 17 
producers and handlers and one public member, plus alternates for each. 
The members will each serve for a three-year term of office. The 
consecutive terms of office for all members and alternates will be 
limited to two three-year terms. Since the Board terms will be 
staggered, approximately one-third of the Board positions will be up 
for reelection each year. Nominations and elections will be conducted 
in a two-part process via the U.S. Mail on an annual basis. The public 
member and alternate will be selected by the Board every three years.
    Members and alternates are appointed by the Secretary to administer 
the marketing order program locally, and are selected from nominees 
submitted by tart cherry producers and handlers in the production area. 
The marketing order, and rules and regulations issued thereunder, 
authorize the Board to require producers, handlers and processors to 
submit certain information.
    The Board has developed forms as a convenience to persons who are 
required to file information with the Board relating to tart cherry 
inventories, shipments, diversions, and other information needed to 
carry out the purposes of the Act and the Order. Since this Order 
regulates the canned and frozen form of tart cherries, reporting 
requirements will be in effect all year. 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.
    The form being added to the currently approved tart cherry 
information collection is a producer list for referendum form. This 
form will be used by handlers to report the names, addresses, and 
tonnage of tart cherries produced by the growers whose cherries the 
handler handles. This information will be used by the Secretary to 
verify that referendum ballots are distributed to the greatest number 
of tart cherry growers possible. This form will be completed by the 45 
handlers regulated under the marketing order. The time required to 
complete this form is estimated to average 20 minutes per response. 
Using this form increases the estimated total annual burden on 
handlers, by 14 hours, from 990 hours to 1004 hours. Also, the number 
of total annual responses supplied by handlers for the entire tart 
cherry information collection increases from 5,772 to 5,817.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), including AMS, 
Fruit and Vegetable Division regional and headquarter's staff, and 
authorized employees of the Board. AMS is the primary user of the 
information and authorized committee employees are the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.1726 hours per response.
    Respondents: Tart cherry producers and for-profit businesses 
handling fresh and processed tart cherries produced in Michigan, New 
York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,268.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.587.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1004 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the functioning of the proposed tart 
cherry 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

[[Page 41922]]

of the information requested; and (4) ways to minimize the burden, 
including use of automated or electronic technologies.
    Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0177 and Marketing Order No. 
930, 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 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 also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: July 29, 1997.
Ronald L. Cioffi,
Acting Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 97-20460 Filed 8-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P