[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 128 (Thursday, July 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36648-36649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3272]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-PY-07-0041]


Notice of Request for an Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 of, and revision to a currently 
approved information collection for the National Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 4, 2007.
    Additional Information: Interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to 
Angela C. Snyder, Research and Promotion; Standards, Promotion, & 
Technology Branch; Poultry Programs, AMS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0256; Washington, DC 
20250-0259, (202) 720-0976. Comments should reference the docket number 
and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and 
will be available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket 
Clerk, Poultry Programs, AMS, USDA, Room 3953-S, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0259, during regular business hours, 
or can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0093.
    Expiration Date, as approved by OMB: 11/30/2007.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: National research and promotion programs are designed to 
strengthen the position of a commodity in the marketplace, maintain and 
expand existing domestic and foreign markets, and develop new uses and 
markets for specified agricultural commodities. USDA has the 
responsibility for implementing and overseeing programs for a variety 
of commodities including beef, blueberries, cotton, dairy, eggs, fluid 
milk, Hass avocados, honey, lamb, mangos, mushrooms, peanuts, popcorn, 
pork, potatoes, soybeans, and watermelons. The enabling legislation 
includes the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 2901-
2911]; Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966 [7 U.S.C. 2101-2118]; 
the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 [7 U.S.C. 4501-4514]; 
the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6401-6417]; the Egg 
Research and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 2701-2718]; the Hass 
Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7801-7813]; 
the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act, as amended 
[7 U.S.C. 4601-4613]; the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer 
Information Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6101-6112]; the Popcorn Promotion, 
Research, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7481-7491]; the Pork 
Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 
4801-4819]; the Potato Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 2611-2627]; 
the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 
6301-6311]; the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 4901-
4916]; and the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 
1996 [7 U.S.C. 7411-7425] (which governs the blueberry, lamb, mango, 
and peanut programs).

[[Page 36649]]

    These programs carry out projects relating to research, consumer 
information, advertising, sales promotion, producer information, market 
development, and product research to assist, improve, or promote the 
marketing, distribution, and utilization of their respective 
commodities. Approval of the programs is required through referendum of 
affected parties. The programs are administered by industry boards 
composed of producer, handler, processor, and in some cases, importer 
and public members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Program 
funding is generated through assessments on designated industry 
segments.
    The Secretary also approves the boards' budgets, plans, and 
projects. These responsibilities have been delegated to AMS. The 
applicable commodity program areas within AMS have direct oversight of 
the respective programs.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intents of the various Acts authorizing such 
programs, thereby providing a means of administering the programs. The 
objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the 
following: (1) Funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2) 
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the 
enabling legislation; and (3) the board's administration of the 
programs conforms to USDA policy. The forms covered under this 
collection require the minimum information necessary to effectively 
carry out the requirements of the respective orders, and their use is 
necessary to fulfill the intents of the Acts as expressed in the 
orders. The information collected is used only by authorized employees 
of the various boards and authorized employees of USDA.
    The various boards utilize a variety of forms including; reports 
concerning status information such as handler and importer reports; 
transaction reports; exemption from assessment forms and reimbursement 
forms; forms and information concerning referenda including ballots; 
forms and information concerning board nominations and selection and 
acceptance statements; certification of industry organizations; and 
recordkeeping requirements. The forms and information covered under 
this information collection require the minimum information necessary 
to effectively carry out the requirements of the programs and their use 
is necessary to fulfill the intent of the applicable authorities.
    AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government 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.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.41 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, importers, and others 
in the marketing chain of a variety of agricultural commodities, and 
recordkeepers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 452,182.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 415,677.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 0.92.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 170,033.37 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Angela 
C. Snyder, Research and Promotion; Standards, Promotion, & Technology 
Branch at (202) 720-0976.
    Comments regarding, but not limited to: (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.
    All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the above address and may be viewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov. 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.

    Dated: June 29, 2007.
Ellen Y. King,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 07-3272 Filed 6-29-07; 4:32 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P