[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 34628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16210]


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 Notices
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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. 123 / Monday, June 28, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 34628]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV-99-301]


Request for 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) intent to request approval for information collection 
for a Federal-State Shipping Point Inspection Program Customer Service 
Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 27, 1999 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rob Huttenlocker, Program 
Support Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. 
Box 96456, Room 2049-South, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; telephone 
(202) 720-0297, Fax (202) 720-5136, and Email FPB.DocketC[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Federal-State Shipping Point Inspection Program Customer 
Service Survey.
    OMB Number: 0581-[     ].
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of approval.
    Type of Request: Approval for information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 USC 1621-1627) 
(Act) directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote the 
marketing of agricultural products. Under the Act, AMS offers grading, 
quality assurance, and certification services for a fee for fresh 
fruits, vegetables, and other products based on U.S. grade standards 
and other contract specifications. The use of grading services and 
grade standards is voluntary unless required by Federal Marketing Order 
or Agreement Regulations governing domestic, import, or export 
shipments.
    There are about 9,000 current users of the AMS Fresh Products 
Branch's shipping point grading services and about the same number of 
potential users. These customers are located at shipping point 
locations nationwide and represent a diverse mixture of small, medium 
and large harvesting, packing and shipping companies and cooperatives. 
These companies request product grading and certification services from 
the Federal-State Inspection (FSI) programs located in their areas. The 
FSI programs are supervised and audited by USDA Federal-State Shipping 
Point Supervisors and/or Federal Program Managers with national program 
coordination provided by the Fresh Products Branch in Washington, D.C.
    Customer feedback is a vital component of successfully completing 
the Fresh Products Branch's mission. This customer survey would be 
conducted to evaluate how well the Fresh Products Branch, in 
cooperation with various state shipping point grading services, is 
meeting its commitment to customer service. The survey would not be 
continuous over the 3 year approval period but would be done in two 
parts, first current users, then potential users.
    Information requested in the survey includes meeting levels of 
satisfaction with program services, including those services provided 
by state personnel; rating program oversight provided by USDA; 
providing input regarding shipping point inspection fees; and providing 
levels of interest in new quality, certification and related services 
that may be offered by USDA.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .1667 hours per response (10 
minutes).
    Respondents: Growers, packers, shippers, and brokers of fresh 
fruits, vegetables, nuts, and speciality crops, and financially 
interested parties.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 18,000
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,000 hours
    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 the 
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 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Rob Huttenlocker, Program Support Section, 
Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Room 
2049-South, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456. Comments may also be sent via 
Email to FPB.DocketC[email protected]. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the 
same address.
    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: June 21, 1999.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-16210 Filed 6-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P