[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10468-10469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03856]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LPS-14-0001]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection for Voluntary Grading.

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 of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection in support of the Regulations 
for Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs--7 CFR Part 56. With this 
submission we will merge the burden and forms of the 0581-0127 
Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Poultry Products and Rabbit 
Products; 7 CFR Part 70, approved on December 26, 2013; and 0581-0128 
Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs, 7 CFR Part 
56, approved on June 4, 2011. With this merge we will change the title 
to Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs, Poultry Products, 
and Rabbit Products--7 CFR Part 56 and 70.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 28, 2014 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this information collection notice. Comments should be submitted online 
at www.regulations.gov or sent to Michelle Degenhart, Assistant to the 
Director, Quality Assessment Division, Livestock, Poultry and Seed 
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 3842-S, Washington, DC 
20250-0256, or by facsimile to (202) 690-2746. All comments should 
reference the docket number (AMS-LPS-14-0001), 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: Michelle Degenhart at the above 
physical address, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs, Poultry 
Products, and Rabbit Products--7 CFR Part 56 and 70.
    OMB Number: 0581-0128.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.1538 hours per response.
    Respondents: State or local governments, businesses or other for 
profits, and small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,348.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 47,198.50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 35.01.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,259.29 hours.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 
1621-1627) directs and authorizes the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) to develop standards of quality, grades, grading 
programs, and services which facilitate trading of agricultural 
products, assure consumers of quality products that are graded and 
identified under USDA programs. To provide programs and services, 
section 203(h) of the AMA (7 U.S.C.1622(h)) directs and authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to inspect, certify, and identify the grade, 
class, quality, quantity, and condition of agricultural products under 
such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, including 
assessment and collection of fees for the cost of service. The 
regulations in 7 CFR Part 56 and 70 provides a voluntary program for 
grading shell eggs, poultry products, and rabbit products on the basis 
of U.S. standards and grades. AMS also provides other types of 
voluntary services under the regulations, e.g., contract and 
specification acceptance services and certification of quantity. All of 
the voluntary grading services are available on a resident basis or 
lot-fee basis. Respondents may request resident service on a continuous 
or temporary basis. The service is paid for by the user (user-fee). 
Because this is a voluntary program, respondents need to request or 
apply for the specific service they wish, and in doing so, they provide 
information. Since the AMA requires that the cost of service be 
assessed and collected, information is collected to establish the 
Agency's cost. The information collection requirements in this request 
are essential to carry out the intent of the AMA, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
program. Examples of information collected includes, but not limited 
to: total received volume in pounds or cases, volume in pounds of 
graded and processed poultry, case volume of graded and sized shell 
eggs, applicant's name, billing and facility address, and requests for 
approval of commodity specifications or chemical compounds.

[[Page 10469]]

The information collected is used only by authorized representatives of 
the USDA (AIMS, Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program's national staff; 
regional directors and their staffs; Federal-State supervisors and 
their staffs; and resident Federal-State graders, which includes State 
agencies). The information is used to administer and conduct grading 
services requested by respondents. The Agency is the primary user of 
the information. Information is also used by each authorized State 
agency that has a cooperative agreement with AMS.
    Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Poultry Products and 
Rabbit Products--7 CFR Part 70.
    This collection was approved by OMB on December 26, 2013 and all 
forms, responses and burden will be included with this submission. 
Total burden to be merged is 2,005 burden hours and 24,053 responses.
    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 notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: February 18, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-03856 Filed 2-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M