[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54259-54260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20272]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 8, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54259]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. TB-04-12]


Notice of Request for an Extension 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 to a currently 
approved information collection for Tobacco Report.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 8, 2004 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Henry R. Martin, Chief, 
Market Information and Program Analysis Branch, Tobacco Programs, AMS, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Stop 0280, 1400 Independence 
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-0280, (202) 205-0489, Fax (202) 205-
0099.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Tobacco Report.
    OMB Number: 0581-0004.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 06/30/2005.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Tobacco Statistics Act of 1929 (7 U.S.C. 501-508) 
provides for the collection and publication of statistics of tobacco by 
USDA with regard to quantity of leaf tobacco in all forms in the United 
States and Puerto Rico, owned by or in the possession of dealers, 
manufacturers, growers' cooperative associations, and others with the 
exception of the original growers of the tobacco.
    The statistics shall show the quantity of tobacco in such detail as 
to types, as USDA shall deem to be practical and necessary and shall be 
summarized as of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year 
and are due within 15 days of the summarized dates.
    The information furnished under the provisions of this Act shall be 
used only for statistical purposes for which it is supplied. No 
publication shall be made by USDA whereby the data furnished by any 
particular establishment can be identified, nor shall anyone other than 
the sworn employees of USDA be allowed to examine the individual 
reports.
    The regulations governing the Tobacco Stocks and Standards Act (7 
CFR part 30) issued under the Tobacco Statistics Act specifically 
address the reporting requirements. Tobacco in leaf form or stems is 
reported by types of tobacco and whether stemmed or unstemmed. Tobacco 
in sheet form shall be segregated as to whether for cigar wrapper, 
cigar binder, for cigarettes, or for other products.
    Tobacco stocks reporting is mandatory. The basic purpose of the 
information collection is to ascertain the total supply of 
unmanufactured tobacco available to domestic manufacturers and to 
calculate the amount consumed in manufactured tobacco products. This 
data is also used for the calculation of production quotas for 
individual types of tobacco and for price support calculations.
    The Quarterly Report of Manufacture and Sales of Snuff, Smoking and 
Chewing Tobacco is voluntary. Prior to 1965, information on the 
manufacture and sale of snuff, smoking and chewing tobacco products was 
available from Treasury Department publications on the collection of 
taxes. With repeal of the Federal tax in 1965, the industry requested 
that the collection of basic data be continued to maintain the 
statistical series and all the major manufacturers agreed to furnish 
information. Federal taxes were reimposed in 1985 for snuff and chewing 
tobacco and the Treasury Department began reporting data on these 
products, but not in the detail desired by the industry. Data from this 
report is also used in the calculations to determine the production 
quotas of types of tobacco used in these products.
    The Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) directs 
and authorizes USDA to collect, tabulate, and disseminate statistics on 
marketing agricultural products including market supplies, storage 
stocks, quantity, quality and condition of such products in various 
positions in the marketing channel, utilization of sub-products, 
shipments, and unloads.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.92 hours per response.
    Respondents: Primarily tobacco dealers, manufacturers, and growers' 
cooperative associations including small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 76.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 304.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 278.
    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 Henry R. Martin, 
Chief, Market Information and Program Analysis Branch, Tobacco 
Programs, AMS, USDA Stop 0280, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-0280. 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.


[[Page 54260]]


    Dated: September 1, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20272 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P