[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9479-9480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04861]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-SC-18-0090; SC19-986-1]


Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, 
California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, 
North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas; Notice 
of 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, this 
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention 
to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved 
information collection for Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, 
Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South 
Carolina, and Texas, Marketing Order No. 986.

DATES: Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on information 
collection burden that would result from this notice must be received 
by May 14, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or internet: www.regulations.gov. Comments 
should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register and will be available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business 
hours, or can be viewed at: www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted 
in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be 
made available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of 
the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be made public 
on the internet at the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fiona Pexton, Marketing Order and 
Agreement Division, Specialty Crop Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491 Fax: (202) 720-8938, or Email: 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Richard Lower, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 
0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491; Fax: (202) 
720-8938; or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Pecans Grown in multiple states, Marketing Order No. 981.
    OMB Number: 0581-0291.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops, in a 
specified production area, to work together to solve marketing problems 
that cannot be solved individually. Marketing order regulations help 
ensure adequate supplies of high quality product and adequate returns 
to producers. Marketing orders are authorized by the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674). 
The Secretary of Agriculture oversees these operations and issues 
regulations recommended by a committee of representatives from the 
respective commodity industry.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comments on the 
sixteen forms in this OMB package which are described below. Two ballot 
forms for committee nominations (SC-307 and SC-308), two grower and 
sheller nomination forms (SC-309 and SC-310) as well as two background 
and acceptance statements forms for growers and shellers and public 
members (SC-8 and SC-9) and a grower referendum ballot (SC-313). Two 
marketing agreements (SC-242 and SC-242A) are also included. In 
addition, this package includes seven reporting forms the American 
Pecan Council uses to track shipments and inventory. The Summary Report 
(Form 1); Report of Shipment and Inventory on Hand (Form 2); Export by 
Country of Destination (Form 3); Inter-handler Transfer (Form 4); 
Inshell Pecan Exported to Mexico for Shelling and Returned to the 
United States as Shelled Meat (Form 5); Pecans Purchased Outside of the 
United States (Form 6); and Year-end Inventory Report (Form 7). The 
number of producers has changed from 5,500 to 2,500 since the last 
renewal. Now that the marketing order has been in place for a few 
years, the industry has a better understanding of the actual numbers of 
producers in the industry.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .31 hours per response (rounded).
    Respondents: Pecan producers, handlers, and shellers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,750.
    Estimated Total Annual of Responses: 9,344.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.40 (rounded).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,931 (rounded).
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection of the 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 through 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 also become a matter of 
public record.


[[Page 9480]]


    Dated: March 12, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04861 Filed 3-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P