[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61694-61695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25063]



[[Page 61694]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-10-0069; FV10-900-1NC]


Notice of Request for Extension of the Organic Assessment 
Exemption

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. 3501), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for the forms 
currently used by marketers to apply for exemption from market 
promotion assessments under 26 marketing order programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 6, 2010.
    Additional Information: Contact Sasha Nel, Marketing Specialist, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 205-2829, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Antoinette Carter, Marketing Order Administration Branch, 
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Stop 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 690-3919; 
or E-mail: [email protected].
    Comments: Comments are welcome and should reference the docket 
number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register, as well as the appropriate Marketing Order number. Comments 
may be submitted by mail to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Room 
1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237, or online at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received will be available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular USDA 
business hours, or they can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.
    All comments to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Organic Handler Market Promotion Assessment Exemption under 
26 Federal Marketing Orders.
    OMB Number: 0581-0216.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 21, 2011.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently-approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Marketing Order (Order) programs provide an opportunity 
for producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops in 
specified production areas to work together to solve marketing problems 
that cannot be solved individually.
    Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 as amended 
(7 U.S.C. 601-674), Orders may authorize production and marketing 
research, including paid advertising, to promote various commodities, 
which is paid for by assessments that are levied on the handlers who 
are regulated by the Orders.
    On May 13, 2002, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7201) was amended by the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act (7 U.S.C. 7901), exempting any person who handles or 
markets solely 100 percent organic products from paying these 
assessments with respect to any agricultural commodity that is produced 
on a certified organic farm, as defined in the Organic Foods Production 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502). A certified organic handler can apply for 
this exemption by completing a ``Certified Organic Handler Application 
for Exemption from Market Promotion Assessments Paid Under Federal 
Marketing Orders,'' and submitting it to the applicable Marketing Order 
Committee or Board.
    Section 900.700 of the regulations (7 CFR part 900.700) provides 
for exemption from assessments. This notice applies to the following 
Marketing Order programs: 7 CFR parts 906, Oranges and grapefruit grown 
in Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; 915, Avocados grown in south 
Florida; 916, Nectarines grown in California; 917, Fresh pears and 
peaches grown in California; 922, Apricots grown in designated counties 
in Washington; 923, Sweet cherries grown in designated counties in 
Washington; 924, Fresh prunes grown in designated counties in 
Washington and in Umatilla County, Oregon; 925, Grapes grown in a 
designated area of southeastern California; 927, Pears grown in Oregon 
and Washington; 929, Cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, 
Washington, and Long Island in New York; 930, Tart cherries grown in 
Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and 
Wisconsin; 932, Olives grown in California; 947, Irish potatoes grown 
in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California and in all counties in 
Oregon, except Malheur County; 948, Irish potatoes grown in Colorado; 
955, Vidalia onions grown in Georgia; 956, Sweet onions grown in the 
Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington and northeast Oregon; 958, 
Onions grown in certain designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur 
County, Oregon; 959, Onions grown in South Texas; 966, Tomatoes grown 
in Florida; 981, Almonds grown in California; 982, Hazelnuts grown in 
Oregon and Washington; 984, Walnuts grown in California; 985, Marketing 
order regulating the handling of spearmint oil produced in Washington, 
Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Nevada and Utah; 987, Domestic dates 
produced or packed in Riverside County, California; 989, Raisins 
produced from grapes grown in California; and 993, Dried prunes 
produced in California.
    The information collected is used only by authorized Marketing 
Order Committee or Board employees, who are the primary users of the 
information, and by authorized representatives of the USDA, including 
the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Programs' regional and headquarters staff, 
who are the secondary users of the information.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Respondents are eligible certified organic handlers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 65.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 65.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 33 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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.


[[Page 61695]]


    Dated: September 30, 2010.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-25063 Filed 10-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P