[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42796-42797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6526]


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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 Dairy 
Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing program.

DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than September 26, 2006 to 
be assured of consideration.
    Additional Information and Comments: Contact Bettyann Gonzales, 
Dairy Import Specialist, STOP 1021, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021, telephone 
(202) 720-1344.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Program.
    OMB Number: 0551-0001.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The currently approved information collection supports 
the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Regulation (the Regulation) (7 CFR 
6.20-6.37) which governs the administration of the import licensing 
system applicable to most dairy products subject to tariff-rate quotas 
(TRQs). The TRQs were established in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTS) as a result of entry of certain provisions in 
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465) that converted 
existing absolute quotas to TRQs. Imports of nearly all cheese made 
from cow's milk (except soft-ripened cheese such as Brie) and certain 
non-cheese dairy products (including butter and dried milk) are subject 
to TRQs and the Regulation. Licenses are issued each quota year to 
eligible applicants and are valid for twelve months (January 1 through 
December 31). Only licensees may enter specified quantities of the 
subject dairy articles at the applicable in-quota tariff-rates. 
Importers who do not hold licenses may enter dairy articles only at the 
over-quota tariff-rates.
    Each quota year, all applicants must submit form FAS 923 (rev. 7-
96). This form, available online, requires applicants to: (1) Certify 
they are either an importer, manufacturer or exporter of certain dairy 
products; (2) certify they meet the eligibility requirements of Sec.  
6.23 of the Regulation; and (3) submit documentation required by Sec.  
6.23 and Sec.  6.24 as proof of eligibility for import licenses. 
Applicants for non-historical licenses must also submit form FAS 923-A 
(rev. 7-96) (cheese) and/or FAS 923-B (rev. 7-96) (non-cheese dairy 
products). This form requires applicants to request licenses in 
descending order of preference for specific products and countries 
listed on the form.
    After licenses are issued, Sec.  6.26 requires licensees to 
surrender by October 1 on form FAS 924-A, License Surrender Form, any 
license amount that a licensee does not intend to enter that year. 
These amounts are reallocated, to the extent practicable, to existing 
licensees for the remainder of that year based on requests submitted on 
form FAS 924-B, Application for Additional License Amounts. Form 924A 
and 924B requires the licensee to complete a scannable table listing 
the surrendered amount by license number,

[[Page 42797]]

or listing the additional amounts requested by dairy article, supplying 
country and amount requested, in descending order of preference.
    The estimated total annual burden of 426 hours in the OMB inventory 
for the currently approved information collection will be decreased by 
135 hours to 291 hours. The estimated public reporting burden for this 
collection of currently approved FAS 923, FAS 923-A and 923-B (one 
form) (rev. 7-96) is estimated to average 270 hours; and FAS 924-A and 
FAS 924-B (one form) is 21 hours. The estimated decrease in burden 
hours is based on the agency's new online program, the Dairy 
Accelerated Importer Retrieval and Information Exchange System 
(DAIRIES).
    Estimate of burden: The average burden, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, completing forms, and 
record keeping is estimated at .50 hour for form FAS 923, 923-A, 923-B 
(rev. 7-96) and .15 hour for form 924-A, 924-B.
     Respondents: Importers and manufacturers of cheese and non-cheese 
dairy products, and exporters of non-cheese dairy products.
    Estimated number of respondents: 540 for form FAS 923, 923-A, 923-B 
(rev. 7-96) and 140 for form 924-A, 924-B (rev. 7-96).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 291 hours.
    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. Comments may b sent to Bettyann Gonzales, Dairy Import 
Specialist, Stop 1021, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021, or telephone (202) 
720-1344 or e-mail [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for 
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. FAS is committed to compliance with the Government 
Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies, 
in general, to provide the public the option of submitting information 
or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. 
Electronic submission of the information collection was implemented 
September 2005 in compliance with the GPEA.

    Signed at Washington, DC on July 20, 2006.
Michael W. Yost,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6526 Filed 7-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M