[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86319-86320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28816]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 230 / Wednesday, November 30, 2016 / 
Notices  

[[Page 86319]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-SC-16-0091]


National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs; 
Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

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 document announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). AMS requests an extension of and revision 
to the currently approved information collection 0581-0093 the National 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments should be submitted on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov or to Promotion and Economics Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 
20250-0244. All comments should reference the document number, the date 
and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be 
made available for public inspection in the above office during regular 
business hours or at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene M. Betts, Marketing 
Specialist, Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, 
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone at (202) 720-9915, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0093.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2017.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: National research and promotion programs are designed to 
strengthen the position of a commodity in the marketplace, maintain and 
expand existing domestic and foreign markets, and develop new uses and 
markets for specified agricultural commodities. AMS has the 
responsibility for implementing and overseeing programs for a variety 
of commodities including beef, blueberries, cotton, dairy, eggs, fluid 
milk, Hass avocados, honey, lamb, mangos, mushrooms, paper and paper-
based packaging, peanuts, popcorn, pork, potatoes, processed 
raspberries, softwood lumber, sorghum, soybeans, and watermelons. The 
enabling legislation includes the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 
1985 [7 U.S.C. 2901-2911]; the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 
1966 [7 U.S.C. 2101-2118]; the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 
1983 [7 U.S.C. 4501-4514]; the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 [7 
U.S.C. 6401-6417]; the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act [7 
U.S.C. 2701-2718]; the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and 
Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7801-7813]; the Mushroom Promotion, Research, 
and Consumer Information Act of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6101-6112]; the Popcorn 
Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act [7 U.S.C. 7481-7491]; 
the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985 [7 
U.S.C. 4801-4819]; the Potato Research and Promotion Act [7 U.S.C. 
2611-2627]; the Soybean Promotion, Research, and consumer Information 
Act [7 U.S.C. 6301-6311]; the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act [7 
U.S.C. 4901-4916]; and the Commodity Promotion, Research, and 
Information Act of 1996 [7 U.S.C. 7411-7425](which governs the 
blueberry, honey, lamb, mango, paper and paper-based packaging, peanut, 
processed raspberry, softwood lumber, and sorghum programs). These 
programs appear in the Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR, parts 1150 
and 1160, and parts 1205 through 1260.
    These programs carry out projects relating to research, consumer 
information, advertising, sales, promotion, producer information, 
market development, and product research to assist, improve, or promote 
the marketing, distribution, and utilization of their respective 
commodities. Approval of the programs is required through referendum of 
affected parties. The programs are administered by the industry boards 
composed of producer, handler, processor, manufacturers, and in some 
cases, importer and public members appointed by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. Program funding is generated through assessments on 
designated industry segments.
    The Secretary also approves the board's budgets, plans, and 
projects. These responsibilities have been delegated to AMS. The 
applicable commodity program areas within AMS have direct oversight of 
the respective programs.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intents of the various Acts authorizing such 
programs, thereby providing a means of administering the programs. The 
objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the 
following: (1) Funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2) 
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the 
enabling legislation; and, (3) the board's administration of programs 
conforms to USDA policy. The forms covered under this collection 
require the minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the 
requirements of the respective orders, and their use is necessary to 
fulfill the intents of the Acts as expressed in orders. The information 
collected is used only by authorized employees of the various boards 
and authorized employees of USDA.
    The various boards utilize a variety of forms including: Reports 
concerning status information such as handler and importer reports; 
transaction reports; exemption from assessment forms and reimbursement 
forms; forms and

[[Page 86320]]

information concerning board nominations and selection and acceptance 
statements; certification of industry organizations; and recordkeeping 
requirements. The forms and information covered under this information 
collection require minimum information necessary to effectively carry 
out the requirements of the programs and their use is necessary to 
fulfill the intent of the applicable authority.
    AMS is committed to comply with the E-Government Act, which 
requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the 
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically 
to the maximum extent possible.

For National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Program--
0581-0093

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.347 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, processors, handlers, manufacturers, 
importers, and others in the marketing chain of a variety of 
agricultural commodities, and recordkeepers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 117,942.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 450,673.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.82.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 156,460.

For Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research, and 
Information (Referendum Ballot)

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Manufacturers and importers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 70.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 every 7 years 
(0.14).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2.45.
    This referendum ballot is being merged into the information 
collection 0581-0093 the National Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Programs.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the 
agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; 
(2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 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 document will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

    Dated: November 23, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-28816 Filed 11-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P