[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51178-51179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18337]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


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

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the Department's intention to request an extension for a 
currently approved information collection in support of the Dairy 
Tariff-rate Import Quota Licensing program.

DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than October 3, 2016 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments as requested in this 
document. In your comment, include the Regulation Identifier Number 
(RIN) and volume, date, and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail, hand delivery, or courier: Bettyann Gonzales, Dairy 
Import Specialist, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021, STOP 
1021; or by email at [email protected]; or by telephone at 
(202) 720-1344.
    Comments will be available for inspection online at http://www.regulations.gov and at the mail address listed above between 8:00 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for 
communication of information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 
should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bettyann Gonzales, Dairy Import 
Specialist, STOP 1021, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1021; or by telephone (202) 720-1344; or by email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Dairy Tariff-rate Import Quota Licensing Program.
    OMB Number: 0551-0001.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2017.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The currently approved information collection supports 
the Dairy Tariff-rate Import Quota regulation (the Regulation) (7 CFR 
6.20-6.36) which governs the administration of the import licensing 
system applicable to most dairy products subject to tariff-rate quotas 
(TRQs). The TRQs were established in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTS) as a result of the entry into force of certain 
provisions in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465) that 
converted existing absolute quotas to TRQs. Imports of nearly all 
cheeses made from cow's milk (except soft-ripened cheese such as Brie) 
and certain non-cheese dairy products (including butter and dried milk) 
are subject to TRQs and the Regulation. Licenses are issued each quota 
year to eligible applicants and are valid for 12 months (January 1 
through December 31). Only licensees may enter specified quantities of 
the subject dairy articles at the applicable in-quota tariff-rates. 
Importers who do not hold licenses may enter dairy articles only at the 
over-quota tariff-rates.
    Each quota year, all applicants must submit form FAS 923 (rev. 7-
96). This form, available online, requires applicants to: (1) Certify 
they are an importer, manufacturer or exporter of certain dairy 
products; (2) certify they meet the eligibility requirements of Sec.  
6.23 of the Regulation; and (3) submit documentation required by Sec.  
6.23 and Sec.  6.24 as proof of eligibility for import licenses. 
Applicants for non-historical licenses must also submit form FAS 923-A 
(rev. 7-96) (cheese) and/or FAS 923-B (rev. 7-96) (non-cheese dairy 
products). This form requires applicants to request licenses in 
descending order of preference for specific products and countries 
listed on the form.
    After licenses are issued, Sec.  6.26 requires licensees to 
surrender by October 1 on form FAS 924-A, License Surrender Form, any 
license amount that a licensee does not intend to enter that year. 
These amounts are reallocated, to the extent practicable, to existing 
licensees for the remainder of that year based on requests submitted on 
form FAS 924-B, Application for Additional License Amounts. Forms 924A 
and 924B require the licensee to complete a table listing the 
surrendered amount by license number, or listing the additional amounts 
requested by dairy article and supplying country in descending order of 
preference.
    The estimated total annual burden of 436 hours in the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) inventory for the currently approved 
information collection will remain at 436 hours. The public reporting 
burden for this collection of currently approved forms FAS 923, FAS 
923-A and 923-B (one form) (rev. 7-96) is estimated to average

[[Page 51179]]

436 hours; and FAS 924-A and FAS 924-B (one form) is 23 hours.
    Estimate of Burden: The average burden, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, completing forms, and 
record keeping is estimated at .75 hour for form FAS 923, 923-A, 923-B 
(rev. 7-96) and .15 hour for form 924-A, 924-B.
    Respondents: Importers and manufacturers of cheese and non-cheese 
dairy products, and exporters of non-cheese dairy products.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 550 for form FAS 923, 923-A, 923-B 
(rev. 7-96) and 150 for form 924-A, 924-B (rev. 7-96).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 436 hours.
    Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Copies of this information collection may be obtained from 
Connie Ehrhart, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 
690-1578.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of 
public record.
    FAS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies, in general, 
to provide the public the option of submitting information or 
transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. 
Electronic submission of the information collection was implemented on 
September 2009 in compliance with the GPEA.

     Dated: July 21, 2016.
Philip C. Karsting,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-18337 Filed 8-2-16; 8:45 am]
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