[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 43 (Friday, March 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11545-11546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5056]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number LS-99-22]


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 of and revision to 
the currently approved collections of information for 7 CFR Part 54-
Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and 
Standards), which includes Form LS-313, ``Application for Service'' and 
Form LS-315, ``Application for Commitment Grading or Certification 
Service.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 2, 2000 to be 
assured consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Terry L. Lutz, Assistant to the 
Chief; USDA, AMS, LS, MGC; STOP 0248, Room 2628-S; 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-0248. Comments may be faxed to (202) 
690-4119, or E-mailed to [email protected].
    State that your comments refer to Docket No. LS-99-22, and note the 
date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
    Comments received may be inspected at the above location between 8 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except 
Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry L. Lutz, Assistant to the Chief, 
Meat Grading and Certification (MGC) Branch, 202-720-1246.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR part 54--Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products 
(Grading, Certification, and Standards)
    OMB Number: 0581-0124
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2000.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
collection of information.
    Abstract: The application for meat grading and certification 
services requests Department of Agriculture employees to perform such 
services in the requesting establishment. The information contained on 
the applications constitutes an agreement between USDA and the 
requesting establishment.
    The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to provide voluntary Federal meat grading and 
certification services that facilitate the marketing of meat and meat 
products. The Meat Grading and Certification (MGC) Branch provides 
these services pursuant to 7 CFR part 54--Meats, Prepared Meats, and 
Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and Standards).
    Due to the voluntary nature of grading and certification services, 
7 CFR part 54 contains provisions for the collection of

[[Page 11546]]

fees from users of MGC Branch services that as nearly as possible are 
equal to the cost of providing the requested services. Applicants 
(individual or businesses with financial interest in the product) may 
request MGC Branch services through either submission of Form LS-313 or 
Form LS-315.
    Congress did not specifically authorize this collection of 
information, but completion and submission of Form LS-313 or Form LS-
315 serves as an agreement by the requester to pay for services 
provided.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0169 hours per response.
    Respondents: Livestock and meat industry or other for-profit 
businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 888.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 27.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 406 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.
    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: February 25, 2000.
Barry L. Carpenter,
Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Seed Program.
[FR Doc. 00-5056 Filed 3-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P