[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 5754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02585]


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 Notices
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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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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 28 / Friday, February 9, 2018 / 
Notices  

[[Page 5754]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 6, 2018.
    The Department of Agriculture will submit the following information 
collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 on or after the date 
of publication of this notice. Comments are requested regarding: (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 burden 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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC; New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are encouraged to submit their 
comments to OMB via email to: [email protected] or fax (202) 
395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 
7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602.
    Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received by March 12, 2018. Copies of 
the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

30-Day Federal Register Notice

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Beef Research and Promotion: Producer Request for State to 
Retain Checkoff Assessment Form.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0302.
    Summary of Collection: Congress has delegated to 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 Beef 
Promotion and Research Act of 1985 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 2901-2911).
    On June 21, 2017, a U.S. District Court Judge in Montana issued a 
preliminary injunction enjoining USDA from continuing to allow 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), the entity that administers the National Beef 
Checkoff Program, absent proof that a producer has provided advance 
affirmative consent authorizing MBC to retain a portion of that 
producer's assessment.
    The Beef Checkoff Program carries 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 
beef. The Beef Checkoff Program is directed by a national industry 
board whose members are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, who 
also approves the Beef Boards' budgets, plans, and projects. The latter 
responsibility has been delegated to AMS. The funding for the Beef 
Checkoff Program is industry-specific, with assessments generated by 
producers and importers each time cattle are sold.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Beef Promotion and Research 
Order (Order) and regulations governing the Beef Research and Promotion 
Program authorize the Qualified State Beef Councils (QSBCs) to collect 
and submit certain information as required. The information will be 
used by some beef producers in Montana (and any other State subject to 
a similar court order) who seek to have a portion of the Federal 
assessments remain with MBC (and any other State subject to a similar 
court order) instead of the full assessment collected being forwarded 
to the Beef Board. QSBCs administer the State beef program.
    AMS developed the LPS-2 Producer Request to Retain Beef Checkoff 
Assessments form so that producers have an option to allow MBC (and any 
other State subject to a similar court order) to retain a portion of 
the assessment collected instead of forwarding the full assessment 
collected to the Beef Board. The LPS-2 form gives the producer the 
option to (1) submit the form once a year or (2) submit the form each 
time cattle are sold.
    Without the producer's permission for the State to retain a portion 
of the Federal assessment under the Beef Checkoff Program, MBC will 
likely have insufficient funds to pay for ongoing projects, contracts, 
staff salaries, and other administrative functions and, therefore, 
could be forced to cease operations and potentially leave current staff 
unemployed.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 8.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-02585 Filed 2-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P