[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 243 (Monday, December 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 67850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30261]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 243 / Monday, December 21, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 67850]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LS-09-0079]


Request for an Extension of and Revision to 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 (OMB), for an extension for and revision to a 
currently approved information collection for Federal Seed Act Labeling 
and Enforcement.

DATES: Comments received by February 19, 2010 will be considered.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this currently approved information collection notice. 
Comments should be submitted through the Web site at http://www.regulations.gov. Send written comments to Richard C. Payne, Chief, 
Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch (SRTB), Livestock and Seed Program, 
AMS, USDA, 801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite C, Gastonia, North Carolina 
28054-2193, or by facsimile to (704) 852-4109. All comments should 
reference the docket number AMS-LS-09-0079. All comments received will 
be posted without change, including any personal information provided, 
on the Web site at http://www.regulations.gov and will be made 
available for public inspection at the above physical address during 
regular business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Federal Seed Act Program.
    OMB Number: 0581-0026.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2010.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: This information collection and recordkeeping 
requirements are necessary to conduct the Federal Seed Act (FSA) (7 
U.S.C. 1551 et seq.) program with respect to certain testing, labeling, 
and recordkeeping requirements of agricultural and vegetable seeds in 
interstate commerce. Regulations under the FSA are contained in 7 CFR 
Part 201.
    The FSA, Title II, is a truth-in-labeling law that regulates 
agricultural and vegetable planting seed in interstate commerce. Seed 
subject to the FSA must be labeled with certain quality information and 
it requires that information to be truthful. The FSA prohibits the 
interstate shipment of falsely advertised seed and seed containing 
noxious-weed seeds that are prohibited from sale in the State into 
which the seed is being shipped.
    No unique forms are required for this information collection. The 
FSA requires seed in interstate commerce to be tested and labeled. Once 
in a State, seed must comply with the testing and labeling requirements 
of the State seed law. The same testing and labeling required by the 
FSA nearly always satisfies the State's testing and labeling 
requirements. Also the receiving, sales, cleaning, testing, and 
labeling records required by the FSA, are records that the shipper 
would normally keep in good business practice.
    The information in this collection is the minimum information 
necessary to effectively carry out the enforcement of the FSA. With the 
exception of the requirements for entering a new variety into a State 
seed certification program (set forth separately below), the 
information collection is entirely recordkeeping rather than reporting.

Seed Testing, Labeling, and Recordkeeping

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.14 hours per recordkeeper.
    Respondents: Interstate shippers and labelers of seed.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,870.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 19,373.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.75.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41,500 hours.

Eligibility Requirements for Certification of New Varieties and 
Recordkeeping

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information (eligibility for certification of new varieties) is 
estimated to average 2.23 hours per response.
    Respondents: Entities seeking to enter new varieties into State 
seed certification programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 70.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 630.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 9.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,406 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.
    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: December 15, 2009.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E9-30261 Filed 12-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P