[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 99 (Monday, May 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32073-32074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12803]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. CN-00-005]


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 information collection for the National Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 21, 
2000 to be assured of consideration.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact A. Lee Cliburn, Program 
Appraisal Staff, Cotton Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Rm. 2633-South Building, 
Washington, DC 20090, Telephone (202-720-2145) and Fax (202-690-1718).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0093.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Current expiration date is 11/30/00.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: National research and promotion programs are designed to 
strengthen the position of a commodity in the marketplace, maintain and 
expand existing domestic and foreign markets, and develop new uses and 
markets for specified agricultural commodities. The U.S. Department of 
Agriculture the responsibility for implementing and overseeing programs

[[Page 32074]]

for a variety of commodities including cotton, dairy, eggs, beef, pork, 
soybeans, honey, potatoes, watermelons, mushrooms, kiwifruit, popcorn, 
and olive oil. The enabling legislation includes the Cotton Research 
and Promotion Act of 1966 [7 U.S.C. 2101-2118]; the Dairy Production 
Stabilization Act of 1983 [7 U.S.C. 4501-4513]; the Fluid Milk 
Promotion Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6401-6417]; the Egg Research and 
Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 4301-4319]; the Beef Promotion and 
Research Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 2901-2911]; the Pork Promotion, Research 
and Consumer Information Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 4801-4819]; the Soybean 
Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 6301-6311]; 
Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act, as amended [7 
U.S.C. 4601-4612]; the Potato Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 
2611-2627]; the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 4901-
4916]; the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act 
of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6101-6112]; the National Kiwifruit Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7461-7473]; the 
Popcorn Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 
7481-7491]; and the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act 
of 1996 [7 U.S.C. 7401-7425].
    These programs carry out projects relating to research, consumer 
information, advertising, sales promotion, producer information, market 
development, and product research to assist, improve, or promote the 
marketing, distribution, and utilization of their respective 
commodities. Approval of the programs is required through referendum of 
those who would be covered. Industry boards administer the programs. 
These boards usually composed of producer, handler, processor, and in 
some cases, importer and public members, are appointed by the Secretary 
of Agriculture to administer the programs. The funding for such 
programs is from assessments on designated industry segments. The 
appointed boards are responsible for collecting assessments from the 
affected persons covered under these programs.
    The Secretary also approves the boards' budgets, plans, and 
projects. These responsibilities have been delegated to the 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The applicable commodity program 
areas within AMS have direct oversight of the respective programs.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intents of the various Acts authorizing such 
programs, thereby providing a means of administering the programs. The 
objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the 
following: (1) Funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2) 
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the 
enabling legislation; and (3) the board's administration of the 
programs conforms to USDA policy. The applicable commodity programs 
within AMS have direct oversight of these freestanding programs. The 
forms covered under this collection require the minimum information 
necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the respective 
orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intents of the Acts 
as expressed in the orders. The information collected is used only by 
authorized employees of the various boards and authorized employees of 
USDA.
    The boards administering the various programs utilize a variety of 
forms to carry out the responsibilities. Such forms may include reports 
concerning status information such as handler and importer reports; 
transaction reports; exemption from assessment forms and reimbursement 
forms; forms and information concerning referenda including ballots; 
forms and informaiton concerning board nominations and selection and 
acceptance statements; certification of industry organizations; and 
recordkeeping requirements. The forms and information covered under 
this information collection require the minimum information necessary 
to effectively carry out the requirements of the programs and their use 
is necessary to fulfill the intent of the applicable authorities.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0792943 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, and/or importers of a 
variety of agricultural commodities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Total respondents are estimated to 
be 354,690.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Number of responses 
per respondent is estimated to average 12.389776.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Estimated total 
annual burden is 348,461 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 A. Lee Cliburn, 
Program Appraisal Staff, Cotton Programs, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Rm. 2633-South 
Building, Washington, DC 20090. 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: May 16, 2000.
Lee Cliburn,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Cotton Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-12803 Filed 5-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P