[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72638-72640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33641]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV00-901-1NC]


Notice of Request for Extension and 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 an extension for and revision to a 
currently approved generic information collection for vegetables and 
specialty crops.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 28, 2000.


[[Page 72639]]


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Valerie L. Emmer-Scott, 
Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, room 2525-S., P.O. Box 96456, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456; Tel: (202) 205-2829, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or 
E-mail: [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Jay Guerber, Regulatory Fairness Representative, Marketing 
Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 
room 2525-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; telephone 
(202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or E-mail: Jay.G[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Orders.
    OMB Number: 0581-0178.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2000.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The following marketing orders are covered under this 
information collection: Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated 
Counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon, Marketing Order 945; 
Irish Potatoes Grown in Washington, Marketing Order 946; Irish Potatoes 
Grown on Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California, and in all Counties 
in Oregon, except Malheur County, Marketing Order 947; Irish Potatoes 
Grown in Colorado, Marketing Order 948; Irish Potatoes Grown in 
Southeastern States, Marketing Order 953; Vidalia Onions Grown in 
Georgia, Marketing Order 955; Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla 
Valley of Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon, Marketing 
Order 956; Onions Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and 
Malheur County, Oregon, Marketing Order 958; Onions Grown in South 
Texas, Marketing Order 959; Tomatoes Grown in Florida, Marketing Order 
966; Melons Grown in South Texas, Marketing Order 979; Hazelnuts Grown 
in Oregon and Washington, Marketing Order 982; Walnuts Grown in 
California, Marketing Order 984; Domestic Dates Produced or Packed in 
Riverside County, California, Marketing Order 987; Raisins Produced 
from Grapes Grown in California, Marketing Order 989; and, Dried Prunes 
Produced in California, Marketing Order 993. Also included in this 
request are forms applicable to imported raisins, dates, and dried 
prunes. 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 
or board 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. Also pursuant to section 
8e of the Act, importers of raisins, dates, and dried prunes are 
required to submit certain information.
    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.
    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.
    The orders and their rules and regulations authorize the respective 
commodities' Committees/Boards, the agencies responsible for local 
administration of the orders, to require handlers and producers to 
submit certain information. Much of the information is compiled in 
aggregate and provided to the respective industries to assist in 
marketing decisions. The Committees/Boards have developed forms as a 
means for persons to file required information.
    The forms covered under this information collection 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 
AMAA as expressed in the orders, and the rules and regulations issued 
under 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 0.07718 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, handlers, processors and importers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 17,463.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.72508.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 9,064 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 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 also reference 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 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., 
room 2525-South Building.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request

[[Page 72640]]

for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 21, 1999.
James R. Frazier,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-33641 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P