[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16514-16515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7039]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. FV04-902-1NC]


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 an extension and revision to a 
currently approved generic information collection for marketing orders 
covering fruit crops.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Caroline C. Thorpe, Marketing 
Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, room 
2525-S., Washington, DC 20250-6456; Tel: (202) 205-2829, Fax: (202) 
720-5698, or E-mail: [email protected] or http://www.regulations.gov.
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Jay Guerber, Regulatory Fairness Representative, Marketing 
Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 0237, room 2525-S, Washington, DC 
20250-6456; telephone (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Marketing Orders for Fruit Crops.
    OMB Number: 0581-0189.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2004.

[[Page 16515]]

    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in specified 
production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that 
cannot be solved individually. This notice covers the following 
marketing order program citations 7 CFR parts 905, 906, 915, 916, 917, 
920, 922, 923, 924, 925, 927, 929, and 931. Order regulations help 
ensure adequate supplies of high quality product and adequate returns 
to producers. Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674) industries enter into marketing 
order programs. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to oversee 
the order operations and issue regulations recommended by a committee 
of representatives from each commodity industry.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
marketing order programs. Under the Act, orders may authorize the 
following: Production and marketing research, including paid 
advertising; volume regulations; reserves, including pools and producer 
allotments; container regulations; and quality control. Assessments are 
levied on handlers regulated under the marketing orders.
    Several forms are required to be filed by USDA to enable its 
administration of each program. These include forms covering the 
selection process for industry members to serve on a marketing order's 
committee or board and ballots used in referenda to amend or continue 
marketing order programs.
    Under Federal marketing orders, producers and handlers are 
nominated by their peers to serve as representatives on a committee or 
board which administers each program. Nominees must provide information 
on their qualifications to serve on the committee or board. Nominees 
are selected by the Secretary. Formal rulemaking amendments must be 
approved in referenda conducted by USDA and the Secretary. For the 
purposes of this action, ballots are considered information collections 
and are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. If an order is amended, 
handlers are asked to sign an agreement indicating their willingness to 
abide by the provisions of the amended order.
    Some forms are required to be filed with the committee or board. 
The orders and their rules and regulations authorize the respective 
commodities' committees and boards, the agencies responsible for local 
administration of the orders, to require handlers and producers to 
submit certain information. Much of the information is compiled in 
aggregate and provided to the respective industries to assist in 
marketing decisions. The committees and boards have developed forms as 
a means for persons to file required information relating to supplies, 
shipments, and dispositions of their respective commodities, and other 
information needed to effectively carry out the purpose of the Act and 
their respective orders, and these forms are utilized accordingly.
    The forms covered under this information collection require the 
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements 
of the orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the 
Act as expressed in the orders rules and regulations.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the committees and authorized representatives of the USDA, including 
AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs' regional and headquarter's staff. 
Authorized committee or board employees are the primary users of the 
information and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .22 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, handlers and processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 19,576.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 38,058.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.96.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,579 hours.
    Once this information collection is approved, OMB Control No. 0581-
0177 Tart Cherries, will be merged into the Fruit Crops information 
collection package.
    Comments: 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 through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments should reference this docket number and the appropriate 
marketing order, and be mailed to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., STOP 0237, room 2525-
S, Washington, DC 20090-6456; Fax (202) 720-5698; or E-mail: 
[email protected] or http://www.regulations.gov. Comments 
should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
USDA business hours at 1400 Independence Ave. SW., STOP 0237, 
Washington, DC, room 2525-S, or can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: March 25, 2004.
A. J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-7039 Filed 3-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P