[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11136-11137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03484]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-FV-12-0061; FV12-981-1]


Notice of Request for 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 an extension for and revision of a 
currently approved information collection for Almonds Grown in 
California, M.O. No. 981.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 16, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 
20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or Internet: www.regulations.gov. 
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 Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
business hours, or can be viewed at: www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Weiya Zeng, Marketing Order and 
Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Telephone: (202) 690-3870, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or Email: 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Jeffrey Smutny, Assistant to the Director, Marketing Order 
and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Telephone (202) 720-9922, Fax: (202) 720-8938; or Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Almonds Grown in California, Marketing Order No. 981.
    OMB Number: 0581-0242.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are essential to carry out the intent of the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937 (Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), to provide 
the respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
California almond marketing order (order) (7 CFR part 981), which has 
been operating since 1950.
    The order and its rules and regulations authorize the Almond Board 
of California (Board), the agency responsible for local administration 
of the order, to require handlers and other certain entities to submit 
information.
    In September 2007, a mandatory program was implemented under the 
order to help reduce the potential for Salmonella in almonds. The Board 
has developed forms as a means for persons to file required information 
with the Board relating to the treatment of almonds to reduce the 
potential for Salmonella. Almond handlers are

[[Page 11137]]

required to submit annual treatment plans to the Board and inspection 
agency regarding how they plan to treat their almonds to reduce the 
potential for Salmonella. Entities interested in being almond process 
authorities that validate technologies are required to submit an 
application to the Board on ABC Form No. 51, ``Application for Process 
Authority for Almonds.'' Manufacturers in the United States, Canada, 
and Mexico interested in being approved to accept untreated almonds, 
provided they agree to treat the almonds themselves under the Board's 
Direct Verifiable (DV) program are required to submit an application to 
the Board on ABC Form No. 52, ``Application for Direct Verifiable (DV) 
Program for Further Processing of Untreated Almonds.'' Entities 
interested in being approved DV user auditors are required to submit an 
application to the Board on ABC Form No. 53, ``Application for Direct 
Verifiable (DV) Program Auditors.'' To ensure compliance with the 
mandatory program, entities are required to use either an on-site or 
audit based verification program and annually submit a treatment plan 
to the Board on ABC Form No. 54, ``Handler Treatment Plan.''
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of USDA, including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program's 
regional and headquarters' staff, and authorized employees and agents 
of the Board. Authorized Board employees, agents, and the industry are 
the primary users of the information, and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 13.77 hours per response.
    Respondents: Almond handlers; persons or organizations that would 
like to qualify to be Board-approved process authorities that validate 
treatments and technologies; manufacturers who would like to qualify to 
participate in the Board's DV program; and entities that would like to 
qualify as auditors under the DV program.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 175.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.74.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,200 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of 
information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who respond, including through the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments should reference this docket number and the appropriate 
marketing order and be sent to the USDA in care of the Docket Clerk at 
the address above. 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: February 11, 2013.
David R. Shipman,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03484 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P