[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57141-57142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26620]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 4, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 57141]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of a Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture's intention to request a 
revision of a currently approved information collection in support of 
the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing program.

DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than January 4, 2010.
    Additional Information and Comments: Contact Bettyann Gonzales, 
Dairy Import Specialist, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Mail Stop 1021, Washington, DC 20250-1021, or by telephone at (202) 
720-1344.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Program.
    OMB Number: 0551-0001.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2010.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The currently approved information collection supports 
the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota regulation (the Regulation) (7 CFR 
6.20-6.37) which governs the administration of the import licensing 
system applicable to most dairy products subject to tariff-rate quotas 
(TRQs). The TRQs were established in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTS) as a result of certain provisions in the 
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465) that converted existing 
absolute quotas to TRQs. Imports of nearly all cheese made from cow's 
milk (except soft-ripened cheese such as Brie) and certain non-cheese 
dairy products (including butter and dried milk) are subject to TRQs 
and the Regulation. Licenses are issued each quota year to eligible 
applicants and are valid for 12 months (January 1 through December 31). 
Only licensees may enter specified quantities of the subject dairy 
articles at the applicable in-quota tariff-rates. Importers who do not 
hold licenses may enter dairy articles only at the over-quota tariff-
rates.
    Each quota year, all applicants must submit form FAS 923 (rev. 7-
96). This form, available online, requires applicants to: (1) Certify 
they are either an importer, manufacturer, or exporter of certain dairy 
products; (2) certify they meet the eligibility requirements of Sec.  
6.23 of the Regulation; and (3) submit documentation required by Sec.  
6.23 and Sec.  6.24 as proof of eligibility for import licenses. 
Applicants for non-historical licenses must also submit form FAS 923A 
(rev. 7-96) (cheese) and/or FAS 923B (rev. 7-96) (non-cheese dairy 
products). This form requires applicants to request licenses in 
descending order of preference for specific products and countries 
listed on the form.
    After licenses are issued, Sec.  6.26 requires licensees to 
surrender by October 1 on form FAS 924A, License Surrender Form, any 
license amount that a licensee does not intend to enter that year. 
These amounts are reallocated, to the extent practicable, to existing 
licensees for the remainder of that year based on requests submitted on 
form FAS 924B, Application for Additional License Amounts. Form FAS 
924A and 924B (one form) requires the licensee to complete a table 
listing the surrendered amount by license number, or listing the 
additional amounts requested by dairy article, supplying country and 
amount requested, in descending order of preference.
    The estimated total annual burden of 291 hours in the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) inventory for the currently approved 
information collection will be increased by 168 hours to 459 hours. The 
public reporting burden for this collection of currently approved forms 
FAS 923, FAS 923A and 923B (one form) (rev. 7-96) is estimated to 
average 436 hours; and FAS 924A and 924B (one form) is 23 hours. The 
estimated increase in burden hours is due to the increased number of 
applications.
    Estimate of burden: The average burden, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, completing forms, and 
record keeping is estimated at .75 hour for form FAS 923, 923-A, 923-B 
(rev. 7-96) and .15 hour for form FAS 924A, 924B.
    Respondents: Importers and manufacturers of cheese and non-cheese 
dairy products, and exporters of non-cheese dairy products.
    Estimated number of respondents: 550 for form FAS 923, 923A, 923B 
(rev. 7-96) and 150 for form FAS 924A, 924B (rev. 7-96).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 459 hours.
    Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (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; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to Bettyann Gonzales, Dairy Import 
Specialist, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 
1021, Washington, DC 20250-1021, or by telephone at (202) 720-1344, or 
by e-mail [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for 
communication of information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 
should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of 
public record.
    FAS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination

[[Page 57142]]

Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies, in general, to provide 
the public the option of submitting information or transacting business 
electronically to the maximum extent possible. Electronic submission of 
the information collection was implemented on September 2005 in 
compliance with the GPEA.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on October 26, 2009.
Michael V. Michener,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
 [FR Doc. E9-26620 Filed 11-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P