[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 151 (Monday, August 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44606-44607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12752]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. LS-06-04]


Request for an Extension of and Revision to 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 approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension for and revision to a currently 
approved information collection for Federal Seed Act Labeling and 
Enforcement.

DATES: Comments received by October 6, 2006 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Richard C. Payne, 
Chief, Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 801 
Summit Crossing Place, Suite C, Gastonia, North Carolina 28054-2193; 
telephone (704) 810-8871, fax (704) 852-4109.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Federal Seed Act Program.
    OMB Number: 0581-0026.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2007.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: This information collection and recordkeeping 
requirements are necessary to conduct the Federal Seed Act (FSA) (7 
U.S.C. 1551, et seq.) program with respect to certain testing, 
labeling, and recordkeeping requirements of agricultural and vegetable 
seeds in interstate commerce. Regulations under the FSA appear at 7 CFR 
Part 201.
    The FSA, Title II, is a truth-in-labeling law that regulates 
agricultural and vegetable planting seed in interstate commerce. Seed 
subject to the FSA must be labeled with certain quality information and 
it requires that information to be truthful. The FSA prohibits the 
interstate shipment of falsely advertised seed and seed containing 
noxious-weed seeds that are prohibited from sale in the State into 
which the seed is being shipped.
    No unique forms are required for this information collection. The 
FSA requires seed in interstate commerce to be tested and labeled. Once 
in a State, seed must comply with the testing and labeling requirements 
of the State seed law. The same test and labeling required by the FSA 
nearly always satisfies the State's testing and labeling requirements. 
Also the receiving, sales, cleaning, testing, and labeling records 
required by the FSA, are records that the shipper would normally keep 
in good business practice.
    The information obtained under this information collection is the 
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the enforcement 
of the FSA. With the exception of the requirements for entering a new 
variety into a state seed certification program (set forth separately 
below), the information collection is entirely recordkeeping rather 
then reporting.

Seed Testing and Labeling

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting (recordkeeping) burden for 
this collection of information is estimated to average 14.38 hours per 
recordkeeper.
    Respondents (Record keepers): Interstate shippers and labelers of 
seed.
    Estimated Number of Respondents (Record keepers): 2,740.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent (Record keeper): Not 
Applicable.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents (Record keepers): 
39,388 hours.

Eligibility for Certification of New Varieties

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information (eligibility for certification of new varieties) is 
estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Entities seeking to enter new varieties into State 
seed certification programs.

[[Page 44607]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 100 hours.
    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 Richard C. Payne, 
Chief, Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch, LS, AMS, USDA, 801 Summit 
Crossing Place, Suite C, Gastonia, North Carolina 28054-2193 or E-mail 
to [email protected]. 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.

    Dated: August 1, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-12752 Filed 8-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P