[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44376-44377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20184]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44376]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[No. AMS-LPS-17-0042]


Request for Approval of a New Information Collection for Beef 
Producers To Request for State To Retain a Portion of Assessments

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Agency's intent to request emergency approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information 
collection for beef producers, where applicable, to provide prior 
affirmative consent authorizing a state Qualified State Beef Council 
(QSBC) to retain a portion of their assessments collected under the 
Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 (Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by November 21, 2017. Pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on the information collection burden 
that would result from this proposal must be received by November 21, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice by using the electronic process available at 
www.regulations.gov. Written comments may also be submitted to Research 
and Promotion Division; Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program; AMS, 
USDA, Room 2608-S, STOP 0249; 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 
DC 20250-0249; or facsimile to (202) 720-1125. All comments should 
reference the docket number AMS-LPS-17-0042, the date of submission, 
and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
received will be posted without change, including any personal 
information provided at www.regulations.gov and will be included in the 
record and made available for public inspection at the above office 
during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Dinkel, Research and Promotion 
Division, at (301) 352-7497; facsimile (202) 720-1125; or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview of This Information Collection

    Agency: AMS.
    Title: Beef Research and Promotion Program: Producer Request for 
State to Retain Checkoff Assessment Form.
    OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection.
    Abstract: Congress has delegated the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) the responsibility for implementing and overseeing the Beef 
Research and Promotion Program. The enabling legislation for the Beef 
Research and Promotion Program is the Act (7 U.S.C. 2901-2911).
    On June 21, 2017, a U.S. District Court Judge in Montana granted a 
preliminary injunction enjoining USDA from continuing to allow the 
Montana Beef Council (MBC) to use the assessments that it is qualified 
to collect under the Beef Checkoff Program to fund advertising 
campaigns, unless a cattle producer provides prior affirmative consent 
authorizing MBC to retain a portion of the cattle producer's 
assessment. As a result of this preliminary injunction, MBC must begin 
forwarding all Beef Checkoff Program funds directly to the Cattlemen's 
Beef Promotion and Research Board (Beef Board), absent proof that a 
producer has provided advance affirmative consent authorizing MBC to 
retain a portion of that producer's assessment.
    By law, all cattle producers, except organic producers, must pay 
$1-per-head assessment as required under the Act and the Beef Promotion 
and Research Order (Order). Importers of cattle, beef, and beef 
products pay an equivalent amount. Under the Act and Order, QSBCs are 
responsible for collecting monthly assessments.
    Effective immediately as a result of the preliminary injunction, 
beef producers in Montana must provide prior affirmative consent to 
retain up to 50 cents of the $1 Federal assessment with MBC. Otherwise 
their full assessment will be forwarded to and retained by the Beef 
Board.
    The Order and the regulation governing the Beef Research and 
Promotion Program authorize the Beef Board to collect and submit 
certain information as required. The information will be used by 
certain beef producers who seek to have their assessments remain in the 
state where a QSBC exists instead of being forwarded to the Beef Board.
    AMS developed this form to effectively carry out the court order. 
At this time, one form would permit beef producers to retain a portion 
of the Federal assessment rather than remitting the full Federal 
assessment to the national program. The form AMS developed is LPS-2 
Producer Request to Retain Beef Checkoff Assessment Form--the purpose 
of the form will be used by certain beef producers who request that a 
portion of their required Federal assessment be retained by the QSBC.
    Upon Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the new form 
LPS-2 and the information collection package, AMS will request OMB 
approval to merge the new form and this information collection in the 
currently approved information collection OMB control number 0581-0093.
    Estimate of Burden for LPS-2: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per cattle 
producer.
    Respondents: Beef producers in certain states.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent per Year: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8.30 hours.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 
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

[[Page 44377]]

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 of other forms of information 
technology.
    All responses to this document will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval. All responses will become a matter of 
public record, including any personal information provided.

    Dated: September 18, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20184 Filed 9-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P