[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14429-14430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5393]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 53 / Tuesday, March 18, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 14429]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 13, 2008.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding: (a) Whether the 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 burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Sugar Imported for Exports as Refined Sugar or as a Sugar-
Containing Product, or Used in Production of Certain Polyhydric 
Alcohols.
    Omb Control Number: 0551-0015.
    Summary of Collection: Regulation 7 CFR Part 1530 authorizes the 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to issue import licenses to enter 
raw cane sugar (exempt from the tariff-rate quota for the raw cane 
sugar imports and the related requirements) on the condition that an 
equivalent quantity of refined sugar be: (1) Exported as refined sugar; 
(2) exported as an ingredient in sugar containing products; or (3) used 
in production of certain polyhydric alcohols. The purpose of the sugar 
import-licensing program is to assist U.S. sugar manufacturers, 
refiners, and processors in making U.S. products price competitive on 
the world market; and facilitate the use of domestic refining capacity.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information to 
verify that the world-priced sugar is actually exported and not 
diverted onto the domestic market, thereby undermining the objectives 
of politically sensitive U.S. sugar policies. This collection enables 
USDA to regularly monitor the status of program participants in an 
effort to ensure that they remain within Program parameters. Without 
the collection, there would be increased opportunity to purposely 
divert sugar onto the domestic market.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Frequency Of Responses: Reporting; Quarterly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 717.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Specialty Sugar Import Certificates.
    Omb Control Number: 0551-0025.
    Summary of Collection: The Secretary of Agriculture each year 
announces the U.S. sugar import quantity that will be subject to the 
tariff-rate quotas, including specialty sugars for each fiscal year 
(October 1-September 30). In order to grant licenses, ensure that 
imported specialty sugar does not disrupt the current domestic support 
program, and maintain administrative control over the program, an 
application with certain specific information must be collected from 
those who wish to participate in the program established by the 
regulation. Importers are required to supply specific information to 
the Secretary and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), in order to 
be granted a certificate to import specialty sugar. The information is 
supplied to U.S. Customs officials in order to certify that the sugar 
being imported is ``specialty sugar.''
    Need and Use of the Information: The collected information will be 
used to: (1) Determine whether applicants for the program meet the 
regulation's eligibility criteria; (2) ensure that sugar to be imported 
is specialty sugar and meets the requirements of the regulation; (3) 
audit participants' compliance with the regulation; and (4) prevent 
entry of world-priced program sugar from entering the domestic 
commercial market instead of domestic specialty sugar market. Without 
the collection of this information the Certifying Authority would not 
have any basis on which to make a decision on whether a certificate 
should be granted, and would not have the ability to monitor sugar 
imports under this program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 25.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 30.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Export Assistance Programs.
    Omb Control Number: 0551-0031.
    Summary of Collection: The Office of Trade Program (OTP) provides 
vital services within the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture. It facilitates trade contacts between 
U.S. exporters and foreign buyers seeking U.S. food and agricultural 
products. All of the assistance offered is designed to promote U.S. 
agricultural exports by helping American exporters make contact with 
export agents, trading companies, importers and foreign buyers thus 
creating opportunities to sell their products in overseas markets. The 
specific programs covered by this request for OMB information 
collection authority are: U.S. Suppliers List, Buyer Alert, Trade 
Shows, Foreign Buyers List, Export Directory of U.S. Food Distribution 
Companies, Madigan

[[Page 14430]]

Award. The authority for these program falls under 7 U.S. C. Part 1761, 
7 U.S.C. Part 5693 and 7 U.S.C. part 1765b. FAS will collect 
information using a combination of forms and telephone interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information on 
contact names, mailing addresses, telephones, fax, email, and websites. 
The main purpose for collecting the information is to foster trade 
contacts in an effort to facilitate greater export of U.S. agriculture 
food, forestry, and fishery products. The databases are used to recruit 
U.S. exporters, importers, and buyers to participate in market 
development activities sponsored by USDA. These databases must be 
updated periodically to maintain the integrity and usefulness to the 
trade community.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 31,910.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,632.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-5393 Filed 3-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P