[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11457-11458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6099]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 50 / Thursday, March 14, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11457]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. FV01-81-2NC]


Notice of Request for OMB Approval and Extension of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) is submitting to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for approval and extension the information collection on 
prune trees grown in California per clause (3) of Section 32 of the Act 
of August 24, 1935, as amended (7 U.S.C. 612c). This information 
collection was approved as an emergency package through May 31, 2002, 
and assigned OMB No. 0581-0201.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 13, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Caroline C. Thorpe, Marketing 
Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 
0237, Washington, DC 20090-6456; Tel: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-
8983, 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, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC 
20090-6456; telephone (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: California Prune/Plum Tree Removal Program (``the 
program'').
    OMB Number: 0581-0201.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2002.
    Type of Request: Approval and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are applied only to those growers who voluntarily participate in the 
tree removal program. The information is essential to carry out the 
program, and to administer release of payments to participating 
growers.
    This program is intended to reestablish prune/plum growers' 
purchasing power and is authorized under clause (3) of section 32 of 
the Act of August 24, 1935, as amended (Section 32). Clause (3) of 
Section 32 authorizes USDA to ``reestablish farmers' purchasing power 
by making payments in connection with the normal production of any 
agricultural commodity for domestic consumption.'' Section 32 also 
authorizes USDA to use Section 32 funds ``* * * at such times, and in 
such manner, and in such amounts, as * * *'' is found to ``* * * 
effectuate substantial accomplishments of any one or more of the 
purposes of this section.'' Furthermore, ``Determinations by the 
Secretary as to what constitutes * * * normal production for domestic 
consumption shall be final.''
    The forms covered under this information collection require the 
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements 
of the program, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of 
clause (3) of Section 32 and the rules and regulations issued 
thereunder.
    The California prune industry has requested a tree removal program 
estimated to cost $20 million. The industry asked the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) to provide $17 million in Section 32 funds. The 
industry has contributed $3 million. California's prune bearing acreage 
is expected to reach 94,000 acres next year if no acreage is removed. 
The industry's objective is to remove a minimum of 20,000 bearing acres 
of prune trees. Prune trees are generally planted 100 to 140 trees per 
acre. With an average yield of 2.2 tons per acre (5-year average), 
about 44,000 tons of prune variety plums would be removed from 
production under the program. Such a decrease will more closely align 
prune supply with demand while assuring an adequate supply for all 
market needs. If less productive acres are removed (yields less than 
2.2 tons per acre) or less than 20,000 acres are removed, then the 
reduction in production would be less than 44,000 tons. With prune 
supplies more in line with market needs, market conditions are expected 
to stabilize and producer prices are expected to rise to more 
remunerative levels.
    Two forms are needed to implement the program. The first form is 
``Application for Prune Tree Removal Program'' (FV-298). Growers who 
wish to participate in the program must submit this form to the Prune 
Marketing Committee (Committee), which administers the program. Upon 
receipt of FV-298, the Committee will send the grower a ``Notification 
of Prune Tree Removal'' (FV-299) that requires only the grower's 
signature certifying that the trees were removed, and the date of 
removal. The notification also must be signed by a Committee staff 
member to verify actual removal of the trees. Growers are required to 
maintain copies of both forms for at least three years.
    These forms require the minimum amount of information necessary to 
carry out the program. In addition, USDA has developed these forms in 
consultation with the Committee on behalf of the California prune 
industry. Because this program is not maintained by any other agency, 
the information collected is not available from any other existing 
records.
    The information collected will be used only by authorized 
representatives of the USDA, including AMS' Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs' regional and headquarters staff, and authorized employees of 
the Committee. All information collected will be treated as 
confidential (as indicated on the forms), and will be in conformance 
with the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
    AMS estimates that the total annual burden are 250 hours. The 
proposed request for approval of the information collection under the 
program is as follows:

[[Page 11458]]

    FV-298--Application for Prune Tree Removal Program Reporting:
    Estimate of Burden per Response: 30 minutes.
    Respondents: California prune growers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 480.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 240 hours.
    Recordkeeping:
    Estimate of Burden: 1.2 minutes.
    Respondents: California prune growers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 480.
    Estimated Annual Time per Respondent: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10 hours.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection of the information is necessary for the proper performance 
of the functions of AMS, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of AMS 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 OMB No. 0581-0201 and the California 
Prune Tree Removal Program, and be mailed to the Docket Clerk, Fruit 
and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 
0237, Washington, DC 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 room 2525-S, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20090-6456; or 
telephone: (202) 720-2491.
    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: March 8, 2002.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6099 Filed 3-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P