[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52128-52129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20436]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[AMS-CN-13-0044]


Cotton Classing, Testing and Standards: Notice of Request for an 
Extension and Revision to 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 approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension and revision to the currently 
approved information collection entitled Cotton Classing, Testing, and 
Standards.

DATES: Comments received by October 21, 2013 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited 
to submit written comments concerning this proposal to: Shethir M. 
Riva, Chief, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, 
AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
22406, or email at [email protected]. Comments should be 
submitted in triplicate. Comments may also be submitted electronically 
through www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the AMS-CN-
13-0044. All comments received will be made available for public 
inspection through www.regulations.gov or at Cotton and Tobacco 
Programs, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, 
Virginia, 22406 during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir M. Riva, Chief, Research and 
Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside 
Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406, telephone (540) 
361-2726, facsimile (540) 361-1199, or email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cotton Classing, Testing, and Standards.
    OMB Number: 0581-0008.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: Information solicited is used by the USDA to administer 
and supervise activities associated with the classification or grading 
of cotton, cotton linters, and cottonseed based on official USDA 
Standards. The information requires personal data, such as name, type 
of business, address, and description of classification services 
requested. These programs are conducted under the United States Cotton 
Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51b), the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act 
of 1927 (7 U.S.C. 473c), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
U.S.C. 1622h) and regulations appear at 7 CFR part 28.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Acts and to provide the cotton 
industry the type of information they need to make sound business 
decisions. The information collected is the minimum required. 
Information is requested from growers, cooperatives, merchants, 
manufacturers, and other government agencies.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the USDA, AMS. The cotton industry is the primary user of the compiled 
information and AMS and other

[[Page 52129]]

government agencies are secondary users.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.07 hours per response.
    Respondents: Cotton merchants, warehouses, and gins
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 993
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.91
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,893
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 141.30
    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 Shethir M. Riva, 
Chief, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS, 
USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
22406, or email at [email protected]. All comments received 
will be available for public inspection during regular business hours 
at the same address or at www.regulations.gov.
    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: August 16, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20436 Filed 8-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P