[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 26222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11048]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 88 / Friday, May 6, 2011 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 26222]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 54 and 62

[Doc. No. AMS-LS-11-0039]


Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this document 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 the 
currently approved information collection 7 CFR part 54 Meats, Prepared 
Meats, and Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and Standards) and 7 
CFR part 62 Quality Systems Verification Program (QSVP).

DATES: Comments on this document must be received by July 5, 2011 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this information collection document. Comments should be submitted 
online at http://www.regulations.gov or sent to James Riva, Chief, 
Audit, Review and Compliance Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100 
Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406, or by 
facsimile to (202) 690-1038. All comments should reference the docket 
number (AMS-LS-11-0039), the date, and the page number of this issue of 
the Federal Register. All comments received will be posted without 
change, including any personal information provided, online at http://www.regulations.gov and will be made available for public inspection at 
the above physical address during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Riva at the above physical 
address, by telephone (540) 361-2740, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 7 CFR part 54 Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products 
(Grading, Certification, and Standards) and 7 CFR part 62 Quality 
Systems Verification Program (QSVP).
    OMB Number: 0581-0124.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2011.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, (7 U.S.C. 1621 
et.seq.) as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
consumers with voluntary Federal meat grading and certification 
services that facilitate the marketing of meat and meat products. This 
is accomplished by providing meat and meat products that are uniform in 
quality. The Meat Grading and Certification (MGC) Branch provides these 
services under the authority of 7 CFR Part 54--Meats, Prepared Meats, 
and Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and Standards).
    Due to the voluntary nature of grading and certification services, 
7 CFR part 54 contains provisions for the collection of fees from users 
of MGC Branch services that nearly as possible are equal to the cost of 
providing requested services. Applicants (individual or businesses with 
financial interest in the product) may request services through either 
submission of Form LS-313, ``Application for Service,'' or Form LS-315, 
``Application for Commitment Grading or Certification Service.''
    Also, under the authority of the 1946 Act, the Audit, Review, and 
Compliance (ARC) Branch conducts verification audits of the production 
process in accordance with procedures that are contained in 7 CFR Part 
62--Quality Systems Verification Program (QSVP). QSVP is a collection 
of voluntary, audit-based, user-fee funded programs that allow 
applicants to have program documentation and program processes assessed 
by AMS auditor(s) and other U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
officials. QSVP are user-fee programs based on the approved hourly rate 
established under 7 CFR part 62.
    Applicants (individual or business with financial interest in the 
product) may request verification services through the submission of 
Form-313 ``Application for Service.'' In addition to the application 
for service, applicant would have to develop a technical proposal 
documenting their quality management system.
    Congress did not specifically authorize this information 
collection, but as a user-fee service, completion and submission of 
Form LS-313 or Form LS-315 serve as a legal agreement and assures 
payment for services provided.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 7 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Livestock and meat industry or other for-profit 
businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 83 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 11,588 responses.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 140 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,423 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 document will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: April 29, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-11048 Filed 5-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P