[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78325-78326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30377]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 78325]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc.No. AMS-LPS-13-0088]


National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs; 
Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection and To Merge the Collections of Softwood Lumber and National 
Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information Programs

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 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 of the National Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs; and request approval to 
merge two previously approved information collection packages, Softwood 
Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information 
Order (Order) and National Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and 
Information Program into the National Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Programs to form a single information collection. This 
Notice announces AMS' intention to merge the following collections: 
0581-0264 ``Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and 
Industry Information Order'' and 0581-0258 ``National Processed 
Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information Program'' into 0581-0093 
``National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Program.'' 
This action will keep all research and promotion collections under one 
generic collection since similar forms are used to collect information 
and to prevent duplication of burden.

DATES: Comments must be received by February 24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice. Comments should be submitted online at www.regulations.gov 
or sent to James R. Brow, ANSI U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0251, Room 2610-S1 Washington, DC 
20250-0250, or by facsimile to (202) 720-1125. All comments should 
reference the document number, 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 Brow at the above address by 
telephone at (202) 720-0633, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0093.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: National research and promotion programs are designed to 
strengthen the position of a commodity in the marketplace, maintain and 
expand existing domestic and foreign markets, and develop new uses and 
markets for specified agricultural commodities. AMS has the 
responsibility for implementing and overseeing programs for a variety 
of commodities including beef, blueberries, cotton, dairy, eggs, fluid 
milk, Hass avocados, honey, lamb, mangos, mushrooms, peanuts, popcorn, 
pork, potatoes, processed raspberries, softwood lumber, sorghum, 
soybeans, and watermelons. The enabling legislation includes the Beef 
Promotion and Research Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 2901-2911]; the Cotton 
Research and Promotion Act of 1966 [7 U.S.C. 2101-21181; the Dairy 
Production Stabilization Act of 1983 [7 U.S.C. 4501-4514]; the Fluid 
Milk Promotion Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6401-64171; the Egg Research and 
Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 2701-2718]; the Hass Avocado 
Promotion, Research, and Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7801-78131; the 
Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1990 [7 
U.S.C. 6101-61121; the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer 
Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7481-74911; the Pork Promotion, Research, and 
Consumer Information Act of 1985 [7 U.S.C. 4801-4819]; the Potato 
Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 2611-26271; the Soybean Promotion, 
Research, and consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 6301-63111; the 
Watermelon Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 4901-49161; and the 
Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 [7 U.S.C. 
7411- 7425] (which governs the blueberry, honey, lamb, mango, peanut, 
processed raspberry, softwood lumber, and sorghum programs). These 
programs appear in the Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR, parts 1150 
and 1160, and parts 1205 through 1260.
    These programs carry out projects relating to research, consumer 
information, advertising, sales, promotion, producer information, 
market development, and product research to assist, improve, or promote 
the marketing, distribution, and utilization of their respective 
commodities. Approval of the programs is required through referendum of 
affected parties. The programs are administered by the industry boards 
composed of producer, handler, processor, manufacturers, and in some 
cases, importer and public members appointed by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. Program funding is generated through assessments on 
designated industry segments.
    The Secretary also approves the board's budgets, plans, and 
projects. These responsibilities have been delegated to AMS. The 
applicable commodity program areas within AMS have direct oversight of 
the respective programs.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intents of the various Acts authorizing such 
programs, thereby providing a means of administering the programs. The

[[Page 78326]]

objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the 
following: (1) Funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2) 
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the 
enabling legislation; and, (3) the board's administration of programs 
conforms to USDA policy. The forms covered under this collection 
require the minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the 
requirements of the respective orders, and their use is necessary to 
fulfill the intents of the Acts as expressed in orders. The information 
collected is used only by authorized employees of the various boards 
and authorized employees of USDA.
    The various boards utilize a variety of forms including: reports 
concerning status information such as handler and importer reports; 
transaction reports; exemption from assessment forms and reimbursement 
forms; forms and information concerning board nominations and selection 
and acceptance statements; certification of industry organizations; and 
recordkeeping requirements. The forms and information covered under 
this information collection require minimum information necessary to 
effectively carry out the requirements of the programs and their use is 
necessary to fulfill the intent of the applicable authority.
    As part of this renewal collection for the National Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs (0581-0093), AMS is 
merging the ``Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education 
and Industry Information Order (0581-0264),'' and the ``National 
Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information Program (0581-
0258)'' and including the information collection requirements currently 
approved into one collection (0581-0093). Upon approval of this 
revision to 0581-0093, AMS will submit a Discontinuation Request for 
0581-0264 and 0581-0258 to retire these collections. This action will 
keep all research and promotion collections under one generic 
collection since similar forms are used to collect information and to 
prevent duplication of burden.
    AMS is committed to comply with the E-Government Act, which 
requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the 
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically 
to the maximum extent possible.

For National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Program--
0581-0093

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.84 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, manufacturers, 
importers, and others in the marketing chain of a variety of 
agricultural commodities, and recordkeepers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 429,425
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 509,111
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.18
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3.00

For Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and 
Industry Information Order--0581-0264

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.416 hour per response.
    Respondents: Domestic manufacturers and importers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,478.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 4,495.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.04.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,871.

For National Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information 
Program--0581-0258

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.36 hour per response.
    Respondents: Producers, first handlers, importers, foreign 
producers, and at-large nominees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 297.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 788.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.65.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 282.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the 
agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; 
(2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 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.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

    Dated: December 17, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-30377 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
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