[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 48595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20694]



[[Page 48595]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. CN-03-004]


Request for an Extension and Revision to 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 approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension and revision to the currently 
approved information collection Cotton Classing, Testing, and 
Standards.

DATES: Comments received by October 14, 2003, will be considered.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Interested persons are invited to 
submit written comments concerning this notice to John Stevens, 
Management Analyst, Cotton Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
USDA, STOP 0224. Comments should be submitted in triplicate. Comments 
may also be submitted electronically to [email protected]. All 
comments should reference the docket number and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be made 
available for public inspection at Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Room 
2641-S, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250 during 
regular business hours. A copy of this notice may be found at 
www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/rulemaking.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Stevens, Management Analyst, 
Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, STOP 0224, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0224, telephone (202) 720-3193, facsimile (202) 
690-1718, or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cotton Classing, Testing, and Standards.
    OMB Number: 0581-0008.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: Information solicited is used by the USDA to administer 
and supervise activities associated with the classification or grading 
of cotton, cotton linters, and cottonseed based on official USDA 
Standards. The information requires personal data, such as name, type 
of business, address, and description of classification services 
requested. These programs are conducted under the United States Cotton 
Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51b), the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act 
of 1927 (U.S.C. 473c), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
U.S.C. 1622h).
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Acts and to provide the cotton 
industry the type of information they need to make sound business 
decisions. The information collected is the minimum required. 
Information is requested from growers, cooperatives, merchants, 
manufacturers, and other government agencies.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the USDA, AMS. The Cotton Industry is the primary user of the compiled 
information and AMS and other government agencies are secondary users.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.08 hours per response.
    Respondents: Cotton merchants, warehouses, and gins.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 394.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.54.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,394.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 109.
    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 John Stevens, 
Management Analyst, Cotton Programs, AMS, USDA 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., STOP 0224, Room 2641-S, Washington, DC 20250. 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: August 8, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-20694 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P