[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23884-23885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09465]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LS-13-0007]


Seed Testing Service Program; Request for an Extension of and 
Revision to 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 (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection for the Seed Service Testing 
Program.

DATES: Comments on this document must be received by June 24, 2013 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this information collection document. Comments should be 
submitted online at www.regulations.gov. Send written comments to Fawad 
S. Shah, Director, Seed Regulatory and Testing Division (SRTD), 
Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, 801 Summit Crossing 
Place, Suite C, Gastonia, North Carolina 28054-2193, or by facsimile to 
(704) 852-4109. All comments should reference the docket number (AMS-
LS-13-0007), 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 inspection at 
the above physical address during regular business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Seed Service Testing Program.
    OMB Number: 0581-0140.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 13, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is necessary to conduct 
voluntary seed testing on a fee for service basis. The Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) authorizes 
the Secretary to inspect and certify the quality of agricultural 
products and collect such fees as reasonable to cover the cost of 
service rendered. Regulations for inspection and certification of 
quality of agricultural and vegetable seeds are contained in 7 CFR Part 
75.
    The purpose of the voluntary program is to promote efficient, 
orderly marketing of seeds, and assist in the development of new and 
expanding markets. Under the program, samples of agricultural and 
vegetable seeds submitted to AMS are tested for factors such as purity 
and germination at the request of the applicant for the service. In 
addition, grain samples, submitted at the applicant's request, by the 
Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration are examined 
for the presence of certain weed and crop seed. A Federal Seed Analysis 
Certificate or an ISTA Orange International Seed Lot Certificate is 
issued giving the test results. Most of the seed tested under this 
program is scheduled for export. Many importing countries require a 
Federal Seed Analysis Certificate on U.S. seed.
    The only information collected is information needed to provide the 
service requested by the applicant. This includes information to 
identify the seed being tested, the seed treatment (if treated with a 
pesticide), the tests to be performed, and any other appropriate 
information required by the applicant to be on the Federal Seed 
Analysis Certificate or the ISTA Orange International Seed Lot 
Certificate.
    The number of seed companies applying for the seed testing service 
has decreased from 81 to 76 during the past 3 years due to a decrease 
in the number of companies exporting seed. The total number of samples 
received for testing has decreased. Therefore, the average burden for 
information collection has decreased for seed companies applying for 
the service.
    The information in this collection is used only by authorized AMS 
employees to track, test, and report results to the applicant.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Applicants for seed testing service.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 76.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 25.46.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 483.75 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.


[[Page 23885]]


    Dated: April 17, 2013.
David R. Shipman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-09465 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P