[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45449-45450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17122]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection; Tobacco Marketing Quota Referendum Ballot

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved 
information collection associated with

[[Page 45450]]

Tobacco Marketing Quota Referendum Ballot. This information collection 
is necessary for tobacco farmers and other eligible persons to vote on 
favoring or opposing the marketing quotas for any kind of tobacco.

DATES: Comments about this notice must be received in writing on or 
before September 9, 2002 to be assured of consideration. Comments 
received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to 
Tobacco and Peanuts Division, FSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Room 5750-S, STOP 0514, Washington, DC 20250-0514. Comments may be 
submitted via facsimile to (202) 720-0549 or by e-mail to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Wortham, Tobacco and Peanuts 
Division, (202) 720-2715 and [email protected]. The public may 
inspect comments received and the copies of the forms at Tobacco and 
Peanuts Division, FSA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 5750-S, 
during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 
(202) 720-7413 to facilitate entry to the building. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Tobacco Marketing Quota Referenda Ballot.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0182.
    Form Number: MQ-5.
    Type of Request: Extension with Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is used by the Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) in administering the national tobacco marketing quota 
program; specifically, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (the 
1938 Act) requires that national tobacco marketing quotas be 
established each year only if tobacco producers favor it for the next 
three years. FSA County offices collect information from the voters by 
mailing them a Ballot Form or polling them at certain places. The 
Ballot Form (MQ5) contains a question of favoring the marketing quotas 
for a certain kind of tobacco with ``YES'' or ``NO'' answer to the 
question. Eligible to vote are tobacco allotment and quota owners and 
growers who share in the risk of producing the kind of tobacco for 
which a referendum is held. The FSA County Committee tabulates the 
votes and the final count is used to determine whether or not a 
national marketing quota will be established annually for the certain 
kinds of tobacco. If the information is not collected, the requirements 
of the 1938 Act will not be met and FSA would have no way to determine 
whether tobacco farmers want to continue the national marketing quotas 
and the price support program. FSA would lack the necessary information 
to administer the national tobacco marketing quotas.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Tobacco farmers who are eligible to vote in a 
referendum.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 155,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 13,000 hours.
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the 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 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 28, 2002.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 02-17122 Filed 7-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P