[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 196 (Thursday, October 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58300-58301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25619]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 196 / Thursday, October 9, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 58300]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. CN-03-006]


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 approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension for and revision to a currently 
approved information collection for the National Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Programs.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 8, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested persons are invited to 
submit written comments concerning this notice to Whitney A. Rick, 
Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0224, telephone (202) 
720-2259 and facsimile (202) 690-1718. 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 http://www.usda.gov/cotton/rulemaking.htm.
    Whitney Rick, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton Program, AMS, 
USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-
0224, telephone (202) 720-2259, facsimile (202) 690-1718, or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0093.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Current expiration date is 07/31/04.
    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 has the responsibility for implementing and overseeing 
programs for a variety of commodities including cotton, dairy, eggs, 
beef, pork, soybeans, honey, potatoes, watermelons, mushrooms, hass 
avocados, popcorn, and peanuts. The enabling legislation includes the 
Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 2901-2911]; Cotton 
Research and Promotion Act of 1966 [7 U.S.C. 2101-2118]; the Dairy 
Production Stabilization Act of 1983 [7 U.S.C. 4501-4514]; the Fluid 
Milk Promotion Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6401-6417]; the Egg Research and 
Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 2701-2718]; 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]; the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Act, as amended [7 U.S.C. 4601-4613]; 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 Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and 
Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7801-7813]; the Mushroom Promotion, Research, 
and Consumer Information Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6101-6112]; 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. 7411-7425].
    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

[[Page 58301]]

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 .08 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, and/or importers of a 
variety of agricultural commodities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 321,098.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 4,469,027.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 13.9.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Estimated total 
annual burden is 350,920 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 Whitney A. Rick, 
Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224, 
Room 2641-S, 1400 Independence Ave., SW. Washington, DC 20250-0224, or 
by e-mail at [email protected]. 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.
    AMS is committed to implementation of the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act, which provides for the use of information resources to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of governmental operations, 
including providing the public with the option of submitting 
information or transacting business electronically to the extent 
possible.

    Dated: October 6, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-25619 Filed 10-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P