[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21891-21892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08924]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 75 / Friday, April 18, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 21891]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LPS-14-0024]


Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program; Request for Revision of a 
Currently Approved Information Collection and To Merge the Collections 
of OMB 0581-0124 and 0581-0128

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. Sec.  3501-20), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for revision of two previously approved 
collections by merging them into a single information collection. AMS 
recently merged the Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program's Poultry 
Grading Branch and Grading and Verification Division. Due to this 
organizational merger, AMS intends to combine the following 
collections, 0581-0128 ``Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of 
Shell Eggs--7 CFR part 56'' and 0581-0124 ``7 CFR part 54 Meats, 
Prepared Meats, and Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and 
Standards) and 7 CFR part 62 Quality Systems Verification Program 
(QSVP).'' These collections will be combined into a single collection 
retitled 0581-0128 ``Regulations for Voluntary Grading, Certification, 
and Standards--7 CFR parts 54, 56, 62, and 70.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 17, 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 3942-S, Washington, DC 
20250-0256, or by facsimile to (202) 690-2746. All comments should 
reference the Doc. No. (AMS-LPS-14-0024), 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, Certification, and 
Standards--7 CFR parts 54, 56, 62, and 70.
    OMB Number: 0581-0128.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2014.
    Type of Request: Revision and merger of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 
Sec.  1621-1627) directs and authorizes the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) to develop standards of quality, grades, grading 
programs, and certification services which facilitate marketing 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. Sec.  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 Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program recently merged the 
Poultry Grading Branch and the Grading and Verification Division and 
became the Quality Assessment Division (QAD). The regulations in 7 CFR 
part 54, 56, and 70 provide a voluntary program for grading, 
certification and standards of shell eggs, poultry products, rabbit 
products, meats, prepared meats, and meat products. The regulation in 7 
CFR part 62--Quality Systems Verification Program (QSVP) is a 
collection of voluntary, audit based, user-fee funded programs that 
allow applicants to have program documentation and program processes 
assessed by AMS auditor(s) and other USDA officials. QSVP is user-fee 
programs based on the approved hourly rate established under 7 CFR part 
62. AMS also provides other types of voluntary services under these 
regulations, e.g., contract and specification acceptance services and 
verification of product, processing, further processing, temperature, 
and quantity. Because this is a voluntary program, respondents request 
or apply for the specific service they wish, and in doing so, they 
provide information. The information collected is used only by 
authorized representatives of the USDA (AMS, Livestock, Poultry and 
Seed Program's Quality Assessment Division national and field staff, 
which includes State agencies.) Examples of information collected 
includes, but not limited to: total received volume in pounds or cases, 
volume in pounds of graded, processed and reprocessed products, case 
volume of graded product, applicant's name, billing and facility 
address, commitment hours and requests for approval of commodity 
specifications or chemical compounds and is used to conduct services 
requested by respondents. The Agency is the primary user of the 
information. 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.

0581-0128: Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs--7 
CFR Part 56

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .227 hours per response.
    Respondents: Shell Egg industry or other for-profit businesses. 
State or local governments, businesses or other for profits, and small 
businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 658 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 23,145.5 responses.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 35.18 responses.

[[Page 21892]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,254.20 hours.

0581-0124: 7 CFR Part 54 Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products 
(Grading, Certification, and Standards) and 7 CFR Part 62 Quality 
Systems Verification Program (QSVP)

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .22 hours per response.
    Respondents: Livestock and meat industry or other for-profit 
businesses. State or local governments, businesses or other for 
profits, and small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 83 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 5,998 responses.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 72.3 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,330 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 notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: April 15, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08924 Filed 4-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P