[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65557-65558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22690]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-TB-07-135; TB-07-02]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision 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 approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection for Tobacco Report.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 22, 2008 to 
be assured of consideration.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Henry R. Martin, Acting 
Deputy Administrator, Tobacco Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0280, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0280; (202) 205-0489, Fax (202) 609-1718.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Tobacco Report.
    OMB Number: 0581-0004.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 04/30/2008.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.

[[Page 65558]]

    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, and others with the exception of the original growers of 
the tobacco.
    The statistics shall show the quantity of the 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 was also used for the calculation of production quotas for 
individual types of tobacco and for price support calculations until 
repealed in 2005.
    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 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 was also used in calculations to determine the production quotas 
of types of tobacco used in these products until repealed in 2005.
    The Agricultural 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 0.90 hours per response.
    Respondents: Primarily tobacco dealers and manufacturers including 
small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 57.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 228.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 204.
    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, 
Acting Deputy Administrator, 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.

    Dated: November 15, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22690 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P