[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37230-37231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16273]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 147 / Wednesday, July 31, 2019 / 
Notices  

[[Page 37230]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-TM-19-0067]


Transportation and Marketing Program; Notice of Extension and 
Request for 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 seek renewal and extension of its current approval from the Office 
of Management and Budget to collect information for eight competitive 
and one non-competitive AMS Grant Programs administered by its Grants 
Division. Three of these programs were created pursuant to the 
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill), thereby increasing the 
number of respondents who are potentially subject to this information 
collection. However, the reporting requirements should remain the same 
across all of the grant programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 30, 2019 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this information collection notice. Comments should be submitted online 
at www.regulations.gov or sent to John Miklozek, Grants Division 
Director, AMS Transportation and Marketing Program, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0264, or by facsimile to 
(202) 690-0338. All comments should reference the Doc. No. AMS-TM-19-
0067, the date, and the page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register. All comments received, including any personal information 
provided, will be posted online, without change, at www.regulations.gov 
and will be made available for public inspection at the above physical 
address during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Miklozek at the above physical 
address, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: AMS Grant Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0240.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2019.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: AMS Grant Programs are authorized pursuant to the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) and 
are implemented through the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Super Circular) 
(2 CFR 200). In addition to renewal, the AMS Grants Division requests 
to extend its current approval to collect information for four 
additional grant programs. The four grant programs being added to this 
collection are the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives, 
Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP), the Sheep Production and 
Marketing Grant Program (SPMGP), and the Acer Access and Development 
Program (Acer).
    The Farm Bill authorizes the appropriation of up to $20 million 
dollars per fiscal year for the DBI Initiatives grant program. This 
program will establish three or more regionally located dairy product 
and business innovation initiatives for the purposes of diversifying 
dairy product markets to reduce risk and develop higher-value uses for 
dairy products; promoting business development that diversifies farmer 
income through processing and marketing innovation; and encouraging the 
use of regional milk production. The RFSP grant program supports 
partnerships to plan and develop a local or regional food system. The 
SPMGP strengthens and enhances the production and marketing of sheep 
and sheep products in the United States, including the improvement of 
business infrastructure, resource development and the development of 
innovative approaches to solve long-term needs. Acer supports efforts 
to promote the domestic maple syrup industry through activities 
associated with the promotion and expansion of, and research and 
education about, maple-sugaring activities on the land.
    AMS solicits subject matter experts to act as peer reviewers for 
competitive grant programs under its purview. Interested individuals 
apply and those selected objectively review and evaluate grant 
applications against the criteria outlined in the published 
announcement.
    Because AMS Grant Programs are voluntary, respondents request or 
apply for the specific competitive or non-competitive grant program(s) 
they select, and in doing so, they provide information. AMS is the 
primary user of the information. The information collected is needed to 
certify that grant participants are complying with applicable program 
regulations, and the data collected are the minimum information 
necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the program. The 
information collection requirements in this request are essential to 
carry out the intent of the AMA, to provide the respondents the type of 
service they request, and to administer these programs. The burden of 
the AMS Grant Programs is as follows:

Combined Burden for AMS Grant Programs

    Estimate of Burden: 2.58 hours.
    Respondents: Peer reviewers, grant applicants, grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,641.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 17,257.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 29.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
44,607.18 hours.

Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives

    Estimate of Burden: 2.51 hours.
    Respondents: Peer reviewers, grant applicants, grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 121.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 219.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent including 
Recordkeepers: 31.

[[Page 37231]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
549.41 hours.

Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP)

    Estimate of Burden: 2.32 hours.
    Respondents: Peer reviewers, grant applicants, grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 435.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 768.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent including 
Recordkeepers: 45.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
1783.75 hours.

Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program (SPMGP)

    Estimate of Burden: 1.96 hours.
    Respondents: Peer reviewers, grant applicants, grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 15.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 29.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent including 
Recordkeepers: 29.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
56.83 hours.

Acer Access and Development Program (Acer)

    Estimate of Burden: 2.05 hours.
    Respondents: Peer reviewers, grant applicants, grant recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Recordkeepers: 172.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses including Recordkeeping: 304.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent including 
Recordkeepers: 38.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
623.58 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the new 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 
new 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: July 26, 2019.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-16273 Filed 7-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P