[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 91 (Friday, May 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26774-26775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2323]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of a Request for a Revision 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 of 1995, this 
notice announces the Department's intention to request a revision for a 
currently approved information collection in support of the Export 
Sales Reporting program.

DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than July 10, 2007.
    Additional Information and Comments: Contact Peter W. Burr, Export 
Sales Reporting, Branch Chief, Stop 1021, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021, 
telephone; (202) 720-9209, e-mal: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Export Sales Reporting Program.
    OMB Number: 0551-0007.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2007.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 602 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as 
amended, requires the reporting of information pertaining to contracts 
for export sale of certain specified agricultural commodities and other 
commodities that may be designated by the Secretary. In accordance with 
Sec. 602, individual weekly reports submitted shall remain confidential 
and shall be compiled and published in compilation form each week 
following the week of reporting. Any person who knowingly fails to 
report shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more 
than 1 year, or both. Regulations at 7 CFR part 20 implement the 
reporting requirements, and prescribe a system for reporting 
information pertaining to contracts for export sales.
    USDA's export sales reporting system was created after the large 
unexpected purchase of U.S. wheat and corn by the

[[Page 26775]]

Soviet Union in 1972. To make sure that all parties involved in the 
production and export of U.S. grain have access to up-to-date export 
information, the U.S. Congress mandated as export sales reporting 
requirements in 1973. Prior to the establishment of the Export Sales 
Reporting System, it was impossible for the public to obtain 
information on export sales activity until the actual shipments had 
taken place. This frequently resulted in considerable delay in the 
availability of information.
    Under the export sales reporting system, U.S. exporters are 
required to report all large sales of certain designated commodities by 
3 p.m. (eastern time) on the next business days after the sale is made. 
The designated commodities for these daily reports are wheat (by 
class), barley, corn, grain sorghum, oats, soybeans, soybean cake and 
meal, and soybean oil. Large sales for all reportable commodities 
except soybean oil are defined as 100,000 metric tons or more of one 
commodity in one day to a single destination or 200,000 tons or more of 
one commodity during the weekly reporting period. Large sales for 
soybean oil are 200,000 tons and 40,000 tons, respectively.
    Weekly reports are also required, regardless of the size of the 
sales transaction, for all of these commodities, as well as wheat 
products, rye, flaxseed, linseed oil, sunflowerseed oil, cotton (by 
staple length), cottonseed, cottonseed cake and meal, cottonseed oil, 
rice (by class), cattle hides and skins (cattle, calf, and kip), and 
beef. The reporting week for the export sales reporting system is 
Friday-Thursday. The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to add 
other commodities to this list.
    U.S. exporters provide information on the quantity of their sales 
transactions, the type and class of commodity, the marketing year of 
shipment, and the destination. They also report any changes in 
previously reported information, such as cancellations and changes in 
destinations.
    The estimated total annual burden of 31,190 hours in the OMB 
inventory for the currently approved information collection will be 
increased by 11,757 hours to 42,947 hours. The estimated increase is 
based on the growth in U.S. exports of reported commodities during this 
period.
    Estimate of Burden: The average burden, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, completing forms, and 
record keeping is estimated to be 30 minutes.
    Respondents: All reports of wheat and wheat flour, feed grains, oil 
seeds, cotton, rice, cattle hides and skins, beef, and any products 
thereof, and other commodities that the Secretary may designate as 
produced in the United States.
    Estimated number of respondents: 340 for forms FAS 97, 98, 99, and 
100.
    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. Copies of the current information collection may be 
obtained from Tamoria Thompson-Hall, FAS Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (202) 690-1690 or e-mail at [email protected]. 
Comments may be sent to Peter W. Burr, Office of Trade Programs/Import 
and Trade Support Programs Division/Export Sales Reporting, FAS, 1400 
Independence Avenue, Stop 1021, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021 or 
[email protected], or to the Desk Office for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503. Comments can also be hand delivered to Export 
Sales Reporting, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 456, 1250 
Maryland Avenue, Washington, DC 20024. Persons with disabilities who 
require an alternative means of 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 
will become a matter of public record.
    Government Paperwork Elimination Act: FAS is committed to 
compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, which 
requires Government agencies, in general, to provide the public the 
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically 
to the maximum extent possible.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on April 26, 2007.
Michael W. Yost,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 07-2323 Filed 5-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M