[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14822-14823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06144]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / 
Notices  

[[Page 14822]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-FV-15-0069; FV16-981-1]


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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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 an extension for and revision of a 
currently approved information collection for Almonds Grown in 
California, Marketing Order No. 981.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 17, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or Internet: www.regulations.gov. Comments 
should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register and will be available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business 
hours, or can be viewed at: www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted 
in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be 
made available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of 
the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be made 
available to the public on the internet at the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Marketing Order and 
Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Telephone: (202) 720-6862, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or Email: 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Antoinette Carter, Technical Assistant to the Director, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, 
DC 20250-0237; Telephone (202) 690-3919, Fax: (202) 720-8938; or Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Almonds Grown in California, Marketing Order No. 981.
    OMB Number: 0581-0242.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2016.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are essential to carry out the intent of the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937 (Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), to provide 
the respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
California almond marketing order (7 CFR part 981), which has been 
operating since 1950.
    The marketing order and its rules and regulations authorize the 
Almond Board of California (Board), the agency responsible for local 
administration of the marketing order, to require handlers and other 
certain entities to submit information.
    In September 2007, a mandatory program was implemented under the 
marketing order to help reduce the potential for Salmonella in almonds. 
The Board has developed forms as a means for persons to file required 
information with the Board relating to the treatment of almonds to 
reduce the potential for Salmonella. Almond handlers are required to 
submit annual treatment plans to the Board and inspection agency 
regarding how they plan to treat their almonds to reduce the potential 
for Salmonella. Entities interested in being almond process authorities 
that validate technologies are required to submit an application to the 
Board on ABC Form No. 51, ``Application for Process Authority for 
Almonds.'' Manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico 
interested in being approved to accept untreated almonds, provided they 
agree to treat the almonds themselves under the Board's Direct 
Verifiable (DV) program are required to submit an application to the 
Board on ABC Form No. 52, ``Application for Direct Verifiable (DV) 
Program for Further Processing of Untreated Almonds.'' Entities 
interested in being approved DV user auditors are required to submit an 
application to the Board on ABC Form No. 53, ``Application for Direct 
Verifiable (DV) Program Auditors.'' To ensure compliance with the 
mandatory program, entities are required to use either an on-site or 
audit-based verification program and annually submit a treatment plan 
to the Board on ABC Form No. 54, ``Handler Treatment Plan.''
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of USDA, including AMS, Specialty Crops Program's 
regional and headquarters' staff, and authorized employees and agents 
of the Board. Authorized Board employees, agents, and the industry are 
the primary users of the information, and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Almond handlers; persons or organizations that would 
like to qualify to be Board-approved process authorities that validate 
treatments and technologies; manufacturers who would like to qualify to 
participate in the Board's DV program; and entities that would like to 
qualify as auditors under the DV program.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 175.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.00.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,200 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of 
information including the validity of

[[Page 14823]]

the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
respond, including through 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: March 15, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06144 Filed 3-17-16; 8:45 am]
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