[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34763-34764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16509]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV99-902-1 NC]


Notice of Request for Approval of a Generic Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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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 approval for a generic information 
collection that will combine several individual marketing order 
information collections into one.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 30, 1999, to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Valerie L. Emmer-Scott, 
Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington, 
D.C. 20090-6456; Telephone: (202) 205-2829 or Fax: (202) 720-5698, or 
E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Marketing Orders for Fruit Crops.
    OMB Number: Number not assigned yet.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of approval.
    Type of Request: Approval for a generic information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops, in specified 
production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that 
cannot be solved individually. Order regulations help ensure adequate 
supplies of high quality products for consumers and adequate returns to 
producers. Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(Act), 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 information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
marketing order programs. Under the Act, orders may authorize the 
following: production and marketing research, including paid 
advertising, volume regulations, reserves, including pools and producer 
allotments, container regulations, and quality control. Production and 
marketing research activities are paid for by assessments levied on 
handlers regulated under the marketing orders.
    Under the marketing orders, producers and handlers are nominated by 
their respective peers. These nominees then serve as representatives on 
their respective committees/boards and must file nomination forms with 
the Secretary.
    The respective committees/boards have developed forms as a means 
for persons to file required information with the committees/boards 
relating to supplies, shipments, and dispositions of their respective 
commodities, and other information needed to effectively carry out the 
purpose of the AMAA and their respective orders, and these forms are 
utilized accordingly.
    Formal rulemaking amendments to the orders must be approved in 
referenda conducted by the Secretary. Also, the Secretary may conduct a 
continuance referendum to determine industry support for continuation 
of these marketing order programs. Handlers are asked to sign an 
agreement to indicate their willingness to abide by the provisions of 
the respective orders whenever an order is amended.
    This information collection will combine: OMB #0581-0068, Oranges 
and Grapefruit Grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, Marketing 
Order No. 906; OMB #0581-0091, Limes Grown in Florida, Marketing Order 
No. 911; OMB # 0581-0078, Avocados Grown in South Florida, Marketing 
Order No. 915; OMB #0581-0072, Nectarines Grown in California, 
Marketing Order No. 916; OMB #0581-0149, Kiwifruit Grown in California, 
Marketing Order No. 920; OMB #0581-0133, Sweet Cherries Grown in 
Designated Counties in Washington, Marketing Order No. 923; OMB #0581-
0134, Fresh Prunes Grown in Designated Counties in Washington and in 
Umatilla County, Oregon, Marketing Order No. 924; and OMB #0581-0109, 
Grapes Grown in a Designated Area of Southeastern California, Marketing 
Order No. 925.
    The forms covered under this information collection will continue 
to require the minimum information necessary to effectively carry out 
the requirements of the orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill 
the intent of the Act as expressed in the orders.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the committees/boards and authorized representatives of the USDA, 
including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs' regional and headquarter's 
staff. Authorized committee/board employees 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 .37 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, handlers and processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,983.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.75.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,940 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 
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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments should reference this docket number and the appropriate 
marketing order, and be mailed to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington, D.C. 
20090-6456; Fax: (202) 720-5698; or E-mail: [email protected]. 
Comments should reference the docket number and the date 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 and

[[Page 34764]]

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., room 2525-South Building.
    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 17, 1999.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-16509 Filed 6-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P