[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 47687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22221]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 47687]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LPS-17-0059]


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural 
Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection used in support of the 
Regulations Governing the Inspection of Eggs (as authorized by the Egg 
Products Inspection Act (EPIA)), which is commonly referred to as the 
Shell Egg Surveillance Program.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 12, 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 Quality 
Assessment Division; Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program; Agricultural 
Marketing Service, USDA; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 3932-S, 
Stop 0258, Washington, DC 20250-0258; or by facsimile to (202) 690-
2746. All comments should reference the docket number AMS-LPS-17-0059, 
the date, 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 to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Degenhart, Assistant to the 
Director, Quality Assessment Division; (202) 260-8417; or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Regulations for the Inspection of Eggs (Egg Products 
Inspection Act).
    OMB Number: 0581-0113.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2018.
    Type of Request: Request for extension of and revision to a 
currently approved information collection.
    Abstract: Congress enacted the EPIA (21 U.S.C. 1031-1056) to 
provide, in part, a mandatory inspection program to control the 
disposition of dirty and checked shell eggs; to control unwholesome, 
adulterated, and inedible shell eggs that are unfit for human 
consumption; and to control the movement and disposition of imported 
shell eggs.
    The EPIA authorized USDA to issue regulations describing how this 
function would be carried out to ensure that only eggs fit for human 
consumption are used for such purposes. To this end, USDA published the 
EPIA, commonly referred to as the Shell Egg Surveillance Program, in 7 
CFR part 57.
    Under the Shell Egg Surveillance Program, shell egg handlers and 
hatcheries are required to register with USDA. A state or Federal 
surveillance inspector visits each registered handler quarterly to 
verify that shell eggs packed for consumer use are in compliance with 
the regulations (e.g., restricted eggs are not used for human 
consumption, storage temperatures are maintained at 45 degrees ambient, 
etc.), that restricted eggs are being disposed of properly, and that 
adequate records are being maintained.
    The information and recordkeeping requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of Congress, to administer the 
mandatory inspection program, and to take regulatory action, in 
accordance with the regulations and the EPIA. The forms within this 
collection package require the minimum information necessary to 
effectively carry out the requirements of the regulations, and their 
use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the EPIA.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of the AMS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program's 
Quality Assessment Division, which includes state agencies authorized 
to conduct inspections on AMS's behalf. The information is only used to 
verify compliance with the EPIA and the regulations, and it is used to 
facilitate regulatory action. The Agency is the primary user of the 
information; secondary users include each authorized state agency that 
have a cooperative agreement with AMS.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .30 hours per response.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profits, and small businesses 
or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 805.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 6,434.50.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,942.28 hours.
    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 responses will become a matter of public 
record, including any personal information provided.

    Dated: October 10, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22221 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P