[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28878-28879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11328]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved information Collection

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, 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 Grain Inspection, Packers 
and Stockyards Administration's (GIPSA) intention to request an 
extension for and revision to the currently approved information 
collection for ``Regulations Governing the National Inspection and 
Weighing System under the United States Grain Standards Act and under 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.''

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by July 19, 2004.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: Send comments via electronic mail to 
[email protected].
     Mail: Send hardcopy written comments to Tess Butler, 
GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 
20250-3604.
     Fax: Send comments by facsimile transmission to: (202) 
690-2755.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to: Tess 
Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-3604.
    Instructions: All comments should make reference to the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
    Background Documents: Information collection package and other 
documents relating to this action will be available for public 
inspection in the above office during regular business hours.
    Read Comments: All comments will be available for public inspection 
in the above office during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
collection of information activities and the use of the information, 
contact Tess Butler (202) 720-7486, or at the address listed above.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Cathy 
McDuffie, the Information Management Specialist, at (301) 734-5190.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress enacted the United States Grain 
Standards Act (USGSA) (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.) and the Agricultural 
Marketing Act (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) to facilitate the marketing 
of grain, oilseeds, pulses, rice, and related commodities. These 
statutes provide for the establishment of standards and terms which 
accurately and consistently measure the quality of grain and related 
products, provide for uniform official inspection and weighing, provide 
regulatory and service responsibilities, and furnish the framework for 
commodity quality improvement incentives to both domestic and foreign 
buyers. The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) of USDA's Grain 
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration establishes policies, 
guidelines, and regulations to carry out the objectives of the USGSA 
and the AMA. Regulations appear at 7 CFR Parts 800, 801, and 802 for 
the USGSA and 7 CFR Part 868 for the AMA.
    The USGSA, with few exceptions, requires official certification of 
export grain sold by grade. Official services are provided, upon 
request, for grain in domestic commerce. The AMA authorizes similar 
inspection and weighing services, upon request, for rice, pulses, 
flour, corn meal, and certain other agricultural products. Conversely, 
the regulations promulgating the USGSA and AMA require specific 
information collection and recordkeeping necessary to carry out 
requests for official services. Applicants for service must specify the 
kind and level of service desired, the identification of the product, 
the location, the amount, and other pertinent information in order that 
official personnel can efficiently respond to their needs.
    Official services under the USGSA are provided through FGIS field 
offices and delegated and/or designated State and private agencies. 
Delegated agencies are State agencies delegated authority under the Act 
to provide official inspection service, Class X or Class Y weighing 
services, or both, at one or more export port locations in the State. 
Designated

[[Page 28879]]

agencies are State or local governmental agencies or persons designated 
under the Act to provide either official inspection services, Class X 
or Class Y weighing services, or both, at locations other than export 
port locations. State and private agencies, as a requirement for 
delegation and/or designation, must comply with all regulations, 
procedures, and instructions in accordance with provisions established 
under the USGSA. FGIS field offices oversee the performance of these 
agencies and provide technical guidance as needed.
    Official services under the AMA are performed, upon request, on a 
fee basis for domestic and export shipments either by FGIS employees, 
individual contractors, or cooperators. Contractors are persons who 
enter into a contract with FGIS to perform specified inspection 
services. Cooperators are agencies or departments of the Federal 
Government which have an interagency agreement or State agencies which 
have a reimbursable agreement with FGIS.
    Title: Regulations Governing the National Inspection and Weighing 
System Under the USGSA and AMA of 1946.
    OMB Number: 0580-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The United States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 71 et 
seq.) and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et 
seq.) provide that USDA inspect, certify and identify the class, 
quality, quantity and condition of agricultural products shipped or 
received in interstate and foreign commerce.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting and record keeping burden for 
this collection of information is estimated to average .09 hours per 
response.
    Respondents: Grain producers, buyers, and sellers, elevator 
operators, grain merchandisers, and official grain inspection agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,400.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1041.6.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 225,000 hours.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 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 including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (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 appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
forms of information technology. 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.

Donna Reifschneider,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-11328 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P