[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 130 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38394-38395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15300]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces our intention to request a revision of a 
currently approved information collection in support of the reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements under the Packers and Stockyards Act. 
This approval is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by September 5, 2008.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-Mail: Send comments via electronic mail to 
[email protected].
     Mail: Send hard copy written comments to Tess Butler, 
GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1633-S, Washington, DC 
20250-3604.
     Fax: Send comments by facsimile transmission to: (202) 
690-2173.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to: Tess 
Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1643-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-3604.
    Instructions: All comments should make reference to the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
    Background Documents: Information collection package and other 
documents relating to this action will be available for public 
inspection in the above office during regular business hours. Copies of 
this information collection can be obtained from Tess Butler; see 
ADDRESSES section for contact information.
    Read Comments: All comments will be available for public inspection 
in the above office during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
information collection activities and the use of the information, 
contact Catherine Grasso at (202) 720-7201 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration (GIPSA) administers and enforces the Packers and 
Stockyards Act of 1921, as amended and supplemented (7 U.S.C. 181-229) 
(P&S Act). The P&S Act prohibits unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent 
practices by livestock market agencies, dealers, stockyard owners, meat 
packers, swine contractors, and live poultry dealers in the livestock, 
poultry, and meatpacking industries.
    Title: Packers and Stockyards Program Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements.
    OMB Number: 0580-0015.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2011.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The P&S Act and the regulations under the P&S Act 
authorize the collection of information for the purpose of enforcing 
the P&S Act and regulations and to conduct studies as requested by 
Congress. The information is needed for GIPSA to carry out its

[[Page 38395]]

responsibilities under the P&S Act. The information is necessary to 
monitor and examine financial, competitive, and trade practices in the 
livestock, meat packing, and poultry industries. The purpose of this 
notice is to solicit comments from the public concerning our changes to 
the Annual and Special Reports (Series 3000).
    The revisions to the Series 3000 forms include three general types 
of changes. First, each form has been redesigned to enhance its 
appearance and logical flow to facilitate clarity and data entry. 
Consistent with this goal, the forms have been formatted in a similar 
style. Second, the information collected on the Series 3000 forms has 
been reduced and a few new information collection items have been 
added. While pertinent information was retained, unnecessary 
information was deleted, and new information to help Packers and 
Stockyards Program analyze Annual Report information was added. The 
third general change is to combine forms when possible so that a 
regulated entity would not have to complete multiple annual forms, and 
two forms have been discontinued (P&SP-3110, ``Supplemental Balance 
Sheet--Packers'' and P&SP-3500, ``Statement of Accounts Payable for 
Livestock--Special Report''). A new form (P&SP-7003, ``Special Report 
for Review of Dealer, Market Agency, and Packer'') that is shorter than 
the annual report form, has been created to collect information to 
allow GIPSA to establish the initial bond amount for businesses that 
register during the course of the year.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting and recordkeeping burden for 
this collection of information is estimated to average 8.5 hours per 
response.
    Respondents (Affected Public): Livestock auction markets, livestock 
dealers, packer buyers, meat packers, and live poultry dealers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,950.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 307,148 hours.
    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)) and its implementing regulations (5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1)(i)), we specifically request comments on:
    (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, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden on 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.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for the Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506 and 5 CFR 1320.8.

James E. Link,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-15300 Filed 7-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P