[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12114-12115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5707]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of a Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the Department's intention to request an extension for a 
currently approved information collection in support of the Export 
Sales Reporting program.

DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than May 14, 2004.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMMENTS: Contact Tim Rocke, Export Sales 
Reporting, Program Manager, STOP 1025, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1025, telephone 
(202) 720-9209, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Export Sales Reporting Program.
    OMB Number: 0551-0007.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 602 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as 
amended, requires the reporting of information pertaining to contracts 
for export sale of certain specified agricultural commodities and other 
commodities that may be designated by the Secretary. In accordance with 
Sec. 602, individual weekly reports submitted shall remain confidential 
and shall be compiled and published in compilation form each week 
following the week of reporting. Any person who knowingly fails to make 
a report shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not 
more than 1 year, or both. Regulations at 7 CFR part 20 implement the 
reporting requirements, and prescribe a system for reporting 
information pertaining to contracts for export sales.
    USDA's export sales reporting system has its roots in the 
unexpected purchase of large amounts of U.S. wheat and corn by the 
Soviet Union in 1972. To make sure that all parties involved in the 
production and export of U.S. grain have access to up-to-date export 
information, the U.S. Congress mandated an export sales reporting 
requirement in 1973. Prior to the establishment of the export reporting 
system, it was impossible for the public to obtain information on 
export sales activity until the actual shipments had taken place. This 
frequently resulted in considerable delay in the availability of 
information.
    Under the export sales reporting system, U.S. exporters are 
required to report all large sales of certain designated commodities by 
3 p.m. (eastern time) on the next business day after the sale is made. 
The designated commodities for these daily reports are wheat (by 
class), barley, corn, grain sorghum, oats, soybeans, soybean cake and 
meal, and soybean oil. Large sales for all reportable commodities 
except soybean oil are defined as 100,000 metric tons or more of one 
commodity in one day to a single destination or 200,000 tons or more of 
one commodity during the weekly reporting period.

[[Page 12115]]

Large sales for soybean oil are 20,000 tons and 40,000 tons, 
respectively.
    Weekly reports are also required, regardless of the size of the 
sales transaction, for all of these commodities, as well as wheat 
products, rye, flaxseed, linseed oil, sunflowerseed oil, cotton (by 
staple length), cottonseed, cottonseed cake and meal, cottonseed oil, 
rice (by class) cattle hides and skins (cattle, calf, and kip), and 
beef. The reporting week for the export sales reporting system is 
Friday-Thursday. The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to add 
other commodities to this list.
    U.S. exporters provide information on the quantity of their sales 
transactions, the type and class of commodity, the marketing year of 
shipment, and the destination. They also report any changes in 
previously reported information, such as cancellation and changes in 
destinations.
    The estimated total annual burden of 30,686 hours in the OMB 
inventory for the currently approved information collection will be 
increased by 504 hours to 31,190 hours. The estimated increase is based 
on the growth in the export market.
    Estimate of burden: The average burden, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, completing forms, and 
record keeping is estimated to be 33 minutes.
    Respondents: All reports of wheat and wheat flour, feed grains, oil 
seeds, cotton, rice, cattle hides and skins, beef and any products 
thereof, and other commodities that the Secretary may designate as 
produced in the United States.
    Estimated number of respondents: 380 for forms FAS 97, 98, 99, and 
100.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 152.
    Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Copies of the current information collection may be 
obtained from Kimberly Chisley, the Agency Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (202) 720-2568 or e-mail at [email protected]. 
Comments may be sent to Tim Rocke, Marketing Operations Staff/Export 
Sales Reporting, FAS, 1400 Independence Avenue, Stop 1025, SW., 
Washington, DC 20520-1025 or [email protected], or to the Desk Officer 
for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Persons with 
disabilities who require an alternative means of communication of 
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact 
USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). All responses 
to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments also will become a matter of public record.
    Government Paperwork Elimination Act: FAS is committed to 
compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, which 
requires Government agencies, in general, to provide the public the 
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically 
to the maximum extent possible.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on February 27, 2004.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5707 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]
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