[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66682-66683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27767]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No.: AMS-DA-11-0087; DA-11-05]
RIN 0581-0110


Request for an Extension to a Currently Approved Information 
Collection for the Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of 
Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products--Recordkeeping (Subpart B)

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 a revision to the currently 
approved information collection for the Regulations Governing the 
Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products--
Recordkeeping (Subpart B).

DATES: Comments on this document must be received by December 27, 2011.

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 Evan J. Stachowicz, 
Dairy Standardization Branch, Dairy Programs, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2746-South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0230; Telephone: (202) 
720-9385, Fax: (202) 720-2643. All comments should

[[Page 66683]]

reference the document number (AMS-DA-11-0087; DA-11-08), the date and 
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 inspections at the above physical address 
during normal business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evan J. Stachowicz, at the above 
physical address or by telephone (202) 720-9385, by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Regulations Governing the Inspection 
and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products--Recordkeeping 
(Subpart B).
    OMB Number: 0581-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2012
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1621 et seq.) directs the Department to develop programs which will 
provide for and facilitate the marketing of agricultural products. One 
of these programs is the USDA voluntary inspection and grading program 
for dairy products (7 CFR Part 58) where these dairy products are 
graded according to U.S. grade standards by a USDA grader. The dairy 
products under the dairy program may be identified with the USDA grade 
mark. Dairy processors, buyers, retailers, institutional users, and 
consumers have requested that such a program be developed to assure the 
uniform quality of dairy products purchased. In order for any service 
program to perform satisfactorily, there are regulations for the 
provider and user. For these reasons, the dairy inspection and grading 
program regulations were developed and issued under the authority of 
the AMA. These regulations are essential to administering the program 
and meeting the needs of the users.
    The information collection requirements in this request are needed 
to ensure that dairy products are produced under sanitary conditions 
and buyers are purchasing a quality product. In order for the 
Regulations governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or 
Processed Dairy Products to serve the government, industry, and the 
consumer, laboratory test results must be recorded.
    Respondents are not required to submit information to the agency. 
The records are to be evaluated by a USDA inspector at the time of an 
inspection. These records include quality tests of each producer, plant 
records of required tests and analysis, and starter and cheese make 
records. As an offsetting benefit, the records required by USDA are 
also records that are routinely used by the inspected facility for 
their own supervisory and quality control purposes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.85 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dairy products manufacturing facilities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 487.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1388.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.85.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3956.
    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. Comments may be sent to Evan J. Stachowicz, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2746--South, Washington, DC 20250-
0230. All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address.
    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: October 21, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27767 Filed 10-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P