[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64358-64359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25662]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LPS-14-0075]


Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program; Notice of Request for 
Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection 
Governing the Inspection of Eggs

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. 3501-20), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intent to request approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection in support of the shell egg 
surveillance portion of the Regulations Governing the Inspection of 
Eggs (Egg Products Inspection Act)--7 CFR part 57.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 29, 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-14-0075), 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 the Inspection of Eggs (Egg Products 
Inspection Act).
    OMB Number: 0581-0113.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2015.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Congress enacted the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 1031-1056) (EPIA) to provide, in part, a mandatory inspection 
program to control the disposition of dirty and checked shell eggs; to 
control unwholesome, adulterated, and inedible shell eggs that are 
unfit for human consumption; and to control the movement and 
disposition of imported shell eggs.
    The EPIA authorizes the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to 
issue regulations to ensure that only eggs fit for human consumption 
are used for such purposes.
    Under the shell egg surveillance program, shell egg handlers and 
hatcheries are required to register with USDA. Quarterly, a State or 
Federal surveillance inspector visits each registered handler to verify 
that shell eggs packed for consumer use are in compliance, that 
restricted eggs are being disposed of properly, and that adequate 
records are being maintained.
    The information and recordkeeping requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of Congress, to administer the 
mandatory inspection program, and to take regulatory action, in 
accordance with the regulations and the EPIA. The forms within this 
collection package require the minimum information necessary to 
effectively carry out the requirements of the regulations, and their 
use is

[[Page 64359]]

necessary to fulfill the intent of the EPIA.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of the AMS, Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program's 
Quality Assessment Division and resident Federal-State graders, which 
includes State agencies authorized to conduct inspections on AMS' 
behalf. The information is only used to verify compliance with the EPIA 
and the regulations and to facilitate regulatory action. The Agency is 
the primary user of the information; secondary users include each 
authorized State agency that have a cooperative agreement with AMS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .31 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit and small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 818.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 6,177.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8 (rounded).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,909 (rounded).
    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: October 23, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25662 Filed 10-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P