[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
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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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