[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 47688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22134]



[[Page 47688]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-DA-17-0062]


Revision of a Currently Approved 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, this 
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for a 
revision of a currently approved collection for the Regulations 
Governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy 
Products--Recordkeeping (Subpart B).

DATES: Comments received by December 12, 2017 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Camia Lane, Dairy 
Grading and Standardization Division, Dairy Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2968--South 
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0230; 
Telephone: 202-720-1671, Fax: 202-720-2643, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of 
Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products--Record Keeping (Subpart B).
    OMB Number: 0581-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2018.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1621 et seq.) directs the Department to develop programs which will 
provide for and facilitate the marketing of agricultural products. One 
of these programs is the USDA voluntary inspection and grading program 
for dairy products (7 CFR part 58).
    Dairy products are graded according to U.S. grade standards by a 
USDA grader. Dairy processors, buyers, retailers, institutional users, 
and consumers have requested that such a program be developed to assure 
the uniform quality of dairy products purchased. In order for any 
service program to perform satisfactorily, there are regulations for 
the provider and user. For these reasons, the dairy inspection and 
grading program regulations were developed and issued under the 
authority of the AMA. These regulations are essential to administer the 
program to meet the needs of the user and to carry out the purposes of 
the AMA.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the AMA to ensure that dairy 
products are produced under sanitary conditions and buyers are 
purchasing a quality product. In order for the General Specifications 
for Dairy Plants Approved for USDA Inspection and Grading Service to 
serve the government, industry, and the consumer, laboratory test 
results must be recorded.
    Respondents are not required to submit information to the agency. 
The records are to be evaluated by a USDA inspector at the time of an 
inspection. These records include quality tests of each producer, plant 
records of required tests and analysis, and starter and cheese make 
records. As an offsetting benefit, the records required by USDA are 
also records that are routinely used by the inspected facility for 
their own supervisory and quality control purposes.
    Estimate of Burden: Public recordkeeping burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 2.73 hours per response.
    Respondents: Dairy products manufacturing facilities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 369.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 369.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1007.
    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 6, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22134 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P