[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29919-29920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10748]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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. 85, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 19, 2020 /
Notices
[[Page 29919]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice
announces the Department's intention to revise the currently approved
information collection in support of the Export Sales Reporting
program.
DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than July 20, 2020 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by the OMB Control number
0551-0007, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Email: [email protected]. Include OMB Control number 0551-
0007 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1053.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Harding, 202-720-3538,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Export Sales Reporting Program of U.S. Agricultural
Commodities.
OMB Number: 0551-0007.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2020.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Section 602 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, as
amended, (7 U.S.C. 5712) requires the reporting of information
pertaining to contracts for export sale of certain specified
agricultural commodities that may be designated by the Secretary of
Agriculture. In accordance with Sec. 602, individual reports submitted
shall remain confidential and shall be compiled and published in
compilation form each week following the week of reporting. Regulations
at 7 CFR part 20 provide the reporting requirements and prescribe a
system for reporting information pertaining to contracts for export
sales.
USDA's Export Sales Reporting System was created after the large
unexpected purchase of U.S. wheat and corn by the Soviet Union in 1972.
To make sure that all parties involved in the production and export of
U.S. grain have access to up-to-date export information, the U.S.
Congress mandated an export sales reporting requirement in 1973. Prior
to the establishment of the Export Sales Reporting System, it was
difficult for the public to obtain information on export sales activity
until the actual shipments had taken place. This frequently resulted in
considerable delay in the availability of information.
Under the Export Sales Reporting System, U.S. exporters are
required to report all large sales of certain designated grains,
oilseeds and oilseed products by 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the next
business day after the sale is made. The designated commodities for
these daily reports are wheat (by class), barley, corn, grain sorghum,
oats, soybeans, soybean cake and meal, and soybean oil. Large sales for
all reportable commodities except soybean oil are defined as 100,000
metric tons or more of one commodity in 1 day to a single destination
or 200,000 tons or more of one commodity during the weekly reporting
period. Large sales for soybean oil are 20,000 tons and 40,000 tons,
respectively.
Weekly reports are also required, regardless of the size of the
sales transaction, for all of these commodities, as well as wheat
products, rye, flaxseed, linseed oil, sunflowerseed oil, cotton (by
staple length), cottonseed, cottonseed cake and meal, cottonseed oil,
rice (by class), cattle hides and skins (including cattle, calf, and
kip), beef, and pork. The reporting week for the export sales reporting
system is Friday-Thursday. The Secretary of Agriculture has the
authority to add other commodities to this list.
U.S. exporters provide information on the quantity of their sales
transactions, the type and class of commodity, the marketing year of
shipment, and the destination. They also report any changes in
previously reported information, such as cancellations and changes in
destinations.
The estimated total annual burden may increase due to the
clarification of the reporting requirements for pork and beef to the
program.
Estimate of Burden: The average burden, including the time for
reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, completing forms, and
record keeping is estimated to be 30 minutes.
Respondents: All exporters of wheat and wheat flour, feed grains,
oilseeds, cotton, rice, cattle hides and skins, beef, pork, and any
products thereof, and other commodities that the Secretary may
designate as produced in the United States.
Estimated number of respondents: 383.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 255.
Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 48,833 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Connie
Ehrhart, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 690-
1578.
Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) whether the
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
collection of information including validity of the methodology and
assumption used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity
of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
FAS is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork
Elimination 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 29920]]
Comments will be available for inspection online at http://www.regulations.gov and at the mail address listed above between 8:00
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for
communication of information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
Confidentiality: All submitted comments and attachments are part of
the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any
material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or that
is inappropriate for public disclosure.
Kenneth Isley,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10748 Filed 5-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P