[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 10123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5120]


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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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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 2, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 10123]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Notice and Request for Extension of an Information Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to 
request extension of an information collection in support of the peanut 
poundage quota program as authorized by the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (1996 Act).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before May 3, 
1999, to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: David Kincannon, Marketing 
Specialist, Tobacco and Peanuts Division, Farm Service Agency, United 
States Department of Agriculture, STOP 0514, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0514, (202) 720-7914, facsimile: (202) 
690-1536; Internet e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Peanuts.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0189.
    Type of Request: Approval for an extension of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The 1996 Act provides that the Secretary of Agriculture 
``shall continue to endeavor to operate the peanut program so as to 
improve the quality of domestic peanuts and ensure the coordination of 
activities under the Peanut Administrative Committee established under 
Marketing Agreement No. 146, regulating the quality of domestically 
produced peanuts (under the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 601 
et seq.), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937).''
    During the 1997 peanut marketing year, peanuts were found to 
contain elevated levels of arsenic which prevented their use in edible 
markets. The cause of such contamination was found to be the use of 
arsenic-based herbicides on peanut plants. Such herbicides, although 
approved for use on nonedible crops such as cotton, has not been 
approved for use on food crops. In prior years, similar contamination 
occurred from the use of Kylar, a daminozide-based pesticide determined 
to be a carcinogen. To eliminate the use of arsenic-based herbicides 
and daminozide-based products, peanut operators will certify on form 
FSA-1016 as to use or non-use of such products on the peanuts delivered 
for market in order to be eligible for peanut price support.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Peanut Operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden of Respondents: 2,000 hours.
    Comments are requested regarding, but not limited to: (1) whether 
the 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 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; or (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on those who are to respond, including the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, D.C. 20503, and to Charles Hatcher, at the address listed 
above. All comments will become a matter of public record.
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection(s) of 
information contained in these proposed regulations between 30 and 60 
days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, a comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect 
if OMB receives it within 60 days of publication.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., on February 16, 1999.
Keith Kelly,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 99-5120 Filed 3-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P