[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 105 (Friday, May 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31052-31053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12053]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-PY-08-0046]


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, 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 in support of the shell egg surveillance portion of the 
Regulation for the Inspection of Eggs--7 CFR part 57.

DATES: Comments received by July 29, 2008 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited 
to submit written comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to David Bowden, Jr., Chief; Standards, 
Promotion & Technology Branch; Poultry Programs, AMS, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0259; Washington, 
DC 20250-0259, (202) 690-3148. 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: Regulations for the Inspection of Eggs (Egg Products 
Inspection Act).
    OMB Number: 0581-0113.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2009.

[[Page 31053]]

    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Congress enacted the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 1031-1056 (EPIA)) to provide, in part, a mandatory inspection 
program to control the disposition of dirty and checked shell eggs; to 
control unwholesome, adulterated, and inedible shell eggs that are 
unfit for human consumption; and to control the movement and 
disposition of imported shell eggs.
    The EPIA authorizes the Department to issue regulations, to assure 
that only eggs fit for human food are used for such purposes.
    Under the shell egg surveillance program, shell egg handlers are 
required to register with USDA. Quarterly, a State or Federal 
surveillance inspector visits each registered handler to verify that 
shell eggs packed for consumer use are in compliance, that restricted 
eggs are being disposed of properly, and that adequate records are 
being maintained.
    The information and recordkeeping requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Congress, to administer the 
mandatory inspection program, and to take regulatory action, in 
accordance with the regulations and the EPIA. The forms within this 
collection package require the minimum information necessary to 
effectively carry out the requirements of the regulations, and their 
use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the EPIA.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives: AMS, Poultry Programs' national staff; regional 
directors and their staffs; Federal-State supervisors and their staffs; 
and resident Federal-State graders, which include State agencies. The 
information is used to assure compliance with the EPIA and the 
regulations and to facilitate regulatory action. The Agency is the 
primary user of the information; secondary users include each 
authorized State agency having a cooperative agreement with AMS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.29 hours per response.
    Respondents: State or local governments, businesses or other for-
profit, Federal agencies or employees, small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 864.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 5,223.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.04.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,529.63 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: David Bowden, Jr., 
Chief, Standards, Promotion & Technology Branch; Poultry Programs, AMS, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 
0259; Washington, DC 20250-0259. 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 become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: May 23, 2008.
Douglas C. Bailey,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-12053 Filed 5-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P