[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 51 (Monday, March 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14874-14875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05218]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-20-0018]


Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order; 
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 
document announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention 
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). AMS 
requests an extension of and revision to the currently approved 
information collection 0581-0268 the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research 
and Information Program.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 15, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. All comments must be submitted through the 
Federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and should 
reference the document number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. All comments submitted in response to 
this proposed rule will be included in the rulemaking record and will 
be made available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of 
the individuals or entities submitting comments will be made public on 
the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Betts, Marketing Specialist, 
Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 
Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-5057, or electronic mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order 
Program.
    OMB Number: 0581-0268.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2020.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information 
program was created to help strengthen the position of Christmas trees 
in the marketplace, and maintain, develop, and expand markets for 
Christmas trees in the United States. The Christmas Tree Promotion, 
Research and Information Order (Order) (7 CFR part 1214) is authorized 
under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 
(1996 Act) (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425).
    The Order was implemented on November 2011, and immediately stayed. 
The stay was lifted on April 7, 2014, in accordance with the provisions 
of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). Currently, the 
Christmas tree program is being administered by the Christmas Tree 
Promotion Board (Board) appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and 
financed by a mandatory assessment on producers and importers of fresh 
cut Christmas trees. The assessment rate is $0.15 per Christmas tree 
cut and sold domestically or imported into the United States. The 
program provides for an exemption for producers and importers that cut 
and sell or import fewer than 500 Christmas trees annually. In 2019, a 
referendum was held among eligible producers and importers to determine 
whether they favor continuation of the program. Fifty-five percent of 
Christmas tree producers and importers who voted were in favor of 
continuing the program, and therefore, the program continues to help 
maintain and expand markets for Christmas trees.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Order and the 1996 Act. The 
objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the 
following: (1) Funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2) 
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the 1996 
Act and Order; and (3) the board's administration of the programs 
conforms to USDA policy.
    The Order's provisions have been carefully reviewed, and every 
effort has been made to minimize any unnecessary recordkeeping costs or 
requirements, including efforts to utilize information already 
submitted under other Christmas tree programs administered by USDA and 
other State programs.
    The forms covered under this collection require the minimum 
information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the 
program. Such information can be supplied without data processing 
equipment or outside technical expertise. In addition, there are no 
additional training requirements for individuals filling out reports 
and remitting assessments to the Board. The forms are simple, easy to 
understand, and place as small a burden as possible on the person 
required to file the information.
    Collecting information yearly would coincide with normal industry 
business practices. The timing and frequency of collecting information 
are intended to meet the needs of the industry while minimizing the 
amount of work necessary to fill out the required reports. The 
requirement to keep records for two years beyond the fiscal period of 
their applicability is consistent with normal industry practices. In 
addition, the information to be included on these forms is not 
available from other sources because such information relates 
specifically to individual producers and importers who will be subject 
to the provisions of the Order and 1996 Act. Therefore, there is no 
practical method for collecting the required information without the 
use of these forms.
    AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, which 
requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the 
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically 
to the maximum extent possible.

[[Page 14875]]

    Estimate of Burden: Public recordkeeping burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.456 hour per response.
    Respondents: Producers and importers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 13,403.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.79.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,110 hours.
    The Board has determined that it would be more efficient to 
separate the ``Sales/Importer Report.'' It is currently a combined 
report that is used by both producers and importers. By separating the 
report, one ``Domestic Sales Report'' and one ``Importer Sales Report'' 
it would be easier and less confusing for producers and importers to 
report their sales to the Board separately, and therefore, a new 
Domestic Sales Report has been created. In addition, a new ``Donation 
Form'' was created to help the Board track voluntary contributions.

Domestic Sales Report

    Estimate of Burden: Public recordkeeping burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.50 hours per application.
    Respondents: Producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,500 hours.

Donation Form

    Estimate of Burden: Public recordkeeping burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per application.
    Respondents: Producers and importers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 37.50 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 document will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

    Dated: March 10, 2020.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-05218 Filed 3-13-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P