[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60712-60713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24627]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-DA-10-0070; DA-10-06]


Notice of Request for an 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 (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, for an extension of, and revision to a currently 
approved information collection for the National Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 30, 2010.
    Additional Information: Interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to 
Whitney A. Rick, Promotion and Research Branch; Dairy Programs, AMS, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 
0233; Washington, DC 20250-0233, (202) 720-6909. 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 Promotion and Research Branch, Dairy Programs, AMS, USDA, Room 
2958-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0233, 
during regular business hours, or can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Programs. OMB Number: 0581-0093. Expiration Date, as approved by OMB: 
11/30/2013.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: National research and promotion programs are designed to 
strengthen the position of a commodity in the marketplace, maintain and 
expand existing domestic and foreign markets, and develop new uses and 
markets for specified agricultural commodities. USDA has the 
responsibility for implementing and overseeing programs for a variety 
of commodities including beef, blueberries, cotton, dairy, eggs, fluid 
milk, Hass avocados, honey, lamb, mangos, mushrooms, peanuts, popcorn, 
pork, potatoes, sorghum, soybeans, and watermelons. The enabling 
legislation includes the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 [7 
U.S.C. 2901-2911]; Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966 [7 U.S.C. 
2101-2118]; the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 [7 U.S.C. 
4501-4514]; the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6401-6417]; 
the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 2701-2718]; the 
Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7801-
7813]; the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act 
of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6101-6112]; the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and 
Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7481-7491]; the Pork Promotion, 
Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 4801-4819]; 
the Potato Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 2611-2627]; the Soybean 
Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 6301-6311]; 
the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 4901-4916]; and the 
Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 [7 U.S.C. 
7411-7425] (which governs the blueberry, honey, lamb, mango, peanut and 
sorghum programs). These programs appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations at 7 CFR, parts 1150 and 1160, and parts 1205 through 1260.
    These programs carry out projects relating to research, consumer 
information, advertising, sales promotion, producer information, market 
development, and product research to assist, improve, or promote the 
marketing, distribution, and utilization of their respective 
commodities. Approval of the programs is required through referendum of 
affected parties. The programs are administered by industry boards 
composed of producer, handler, processor, and in some cases, importer 
and public members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Program 
funding is generated through assessments on designated industry 
segments.
    The Secretary also approves the board's budgets, plans, and 
projects. These responsibilities have been delegated to AMS. The 
applicable commodity program areas within AMS have direct oversight of 
the respective programs.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intents of the various Acts authorizing such 
programs, thereby providing a means of administering the programs. The 
objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the 
following: (1) Funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2) 
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the 
enabling legislation and (3) the board's administration of programs 
conforms to USDA policy. The forms covered under this collection 
require the minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the 
requirements of the respective orders, and their use is necessary to 
fulfill the intents of the Acts as expressed in orders. The information 
collected is used only by authorized employees of the various boards 
and authorized employees of USDA.
    The various boards utilize a variety of forms including; reports 
concerning status information such as handler and importer reports; 
transaction reports; exemption from assessment forms and reimbursement 
forms; forms and information concerning referenda including ballots; 
forms and information concerning board nominations and selection and 
acceptance statements; certification of industry organizations; and 
recordkeeping requirements. The forms and information covered under 
this information collection require the minimum information necessary 
to effectively carry out the requirements of the programs and their use 
is necessary

[[Page 60713]]

to fulfill the intent of the applicable authorities.
    As part of this renewal collection for the National Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs, AMS is merging the 
``Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order, 0581-0246;'' 
``Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Program, 0581-0198;'' 
``Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education 
and Industry Information Order, Referendum Procedures, 0581-0245;'' and 
``Establishment of the New Honey Packers and Importers R&P Program, 
0581-0247.'' Upon approval of this revision of 0581-0093, AMS will 
request a Discontinuation Request for 0581-0246, 0581-0198, 0581-0245, 
and 0581-0247 to retire these collections. This action will keep all 
research and promotion collections under one generic collection since 
similar forms are used to collect information and to prevent 
duplication of burden.
    AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, which 
requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the 
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically 
to the maximum extent possible.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.54 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, importers, and others 
in the marketing chain of a variety of agricultural commodities, and 
recordkeepers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 325,579.
    Estimated Total Annual Reponses: 896,027.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.75.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 334,711.71 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Whitney 
A. Rick, Research and Promotion Branch; Dairy Programs at (202) 720-
6909.
    Comments may be submitted regarding, but is not limited to: (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 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 also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 27, 2010.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-24627 Filed 9-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P