[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 62434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25431]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 194 / Monday, October 7, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 62434]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. DA-02-05]


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 
Services' (AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to a 
currently approved information collection for the Regulations Governing 
the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy 
Products--Recordkeeping (Subpart B).

DATES: Comments received by December 6, 2002, will be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan M. Sausville, USDA/AMS/Dairy 
Programs, Dairy Standardization Branch, Room 2746-South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0230; Tel: (202) 720-
2643, Fax: (202) 720-2643 or via e-mail at [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of 
Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products--Record Keeping (Subpart B).
    OMB Number: 0581-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1621 et seq.) directs the Department to develop programs which will 
provide for and facilitate the marketing of agricultural products. One 
of these programs is the USDA voluntary inspection and grading program 
for dairy products (7 CFR part 58) where these dairy products are 
graded according to U.S. grade standards by a USDA grader. The dairy 
products under the dairy program may be identified with the USDA grade 
mark. Dairy processors, buyers, retailers, institutional users, and 
consumers have requested that such a program be developed to assure the 
uniform quality of dairy products purchased. In order for any service 
program to perform satisfactorily, there are regulations for the 
provider and user. For these reasons, the dairy inspection and grading 
program regulations were developed and issued under the authority of 
the Act. These regulations are essential to administer the program to 
meet the needs of the user and to carry out the purposes of the Act.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the AMA to ensure that dairy 
products are produced under sanitary conditions and that buyers are 
purchasing a quality product. In order for the Regulations Governing 
the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products 
to serve the government, industry, and the consumer, laboratory test 
results must be recorded.
    Respondents are not required to submit information to the agency. 
The records are to be evaluated by a USDA inspector at the time of an 
inspection. These records include quality tests of each producer, plant 
records of required tests and analysis, and starter and cheese make 
records. As an offsetting benefit, the records required by USDA are 
also records that are routinely used by the inspected facility for 
their own supervisory and quality control purposes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this record keeping 
is estimated to average 2.85 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dairy products manufacturing facilities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 487.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1388.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of the 
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 use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to the Office of the 
Deputy Administrator, USDA/AMS/ Dairy Programs, Room 2968-S, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20090-6456. 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: October 1, 2002.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-25431 Filed 10-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P