[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31736-31737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11339]


 ========================================================================
 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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 102 / Wednesday, May 27, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 31736]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 21, 2020.
    The Department of Agriculture will submit the following information 
collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 on or after the date 
of publication of this notice. Comments are requested regarding: 
Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and 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. Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received by June 26, 2020. 
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Specified Commodities Imported into the United States Exempt 
from Import Requirements, 7 CFR part 944, 980, and 999.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0167.
    Summary of Collection: Section 608e of the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), requires 
that whenever the Secretary of Agriculture issues grade, size, quality, 
or maturity regulations under domestic Federal marketing orders, the 
same or comparable regulations must be used for imported commodities. 
Import regulations apply only during those periods when domestic 
marketing order regulations are in effect. No person may import 
products for processing or other exempt purposes unless an executed 
Importers Exempt Commodity Form (SC-6) accompanies the shipment. Both 
the shipper and receiver are required to register in the Compliance and 
Enforcement Management System (CEMS) to electronically file an SC-6 
certificate to notify the Marketing Order and Agreement Division (MOAD) 
of the exemption activity. MOAD provides information on its website 
about the commodities imported under section 8e of the Act and 
directions to the CEMS portal. The Civil Penalty Stipulation Agreement 
(SC-7) is a ``volunteer'' form that provides the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) with an additional tool to obtain resolution of certain 
cases without the cost of going to a hearing.
    Need and Use of the Information: The importers wishing to import 
commodities will use the electronic or paper version of form SC-6, 
``Importer's Exempt Commodity.'' The information collected includes 
information on the imported product (type of product and lot 
identification), the importer's contact information, the U.S. Customs 
entry number, inspection date, and intended use (processing, charity, 
livestock/animal feed). In a situation where a party is alleged to have 
violated the importation regulations, AMS can use SC-7, ``Civil Penalty 
Stipulation Agreement'' form to settle the matter in exchange for the 
payment of a fine. AMS utilizes the information to ensure that imported 
goods destined for exempt outlets are given no less favorable treatment 
than afforded to domestic goods destined for such exempt outlets. If 
the information is not collected, AMS would have no way of maintaining 
a safe and legal import program for fruits, vegetables, and specialty 
crops, as this is the only method of securing compliance with section 
8e of the Act.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 79.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 581.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Vegetable and Specialty Crops.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0178.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 
1937 (7 U.S.C. 601-674; Act) was designed to permit regulation of 
certain agricultural commodities for the purpose of providing orderly 
marketing conditions in interstate commerce and improving returns to 
growers. The Orders and Agreements become effective only after public 
hearings are held in accordance with formal rulemaking procedures 
specified by the Act.
    The vegetable, and specialty crops marketing order programs provide 
an opportunity for producers in specified production areas to work 
together to solve marketing problems that cannot be solved 
individually.
    Need and Use of the Information: Various forms are used to collect 
information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the 
Act and the Order/Agreement. This includes forms covering the selection 
process for industry members to serve on a marketing order's committee 
or board and ballots used in referenda to amend or continue marketing 
orders. Orders and Agreements can authorize the issuance of grade, 
size, quality, maturity, inspection requirements, pack and container 
requirements, and pooling and volume regulations. Information collected 
is used to formulate market policy, track current inventory and 
statistical data for market development programs, ensure compliance, 
and verify eligibility, monitor and record grower's information. If 
this information were not collected, it would eliminate data needed to 
keep the industry and the

[[Page 31737]]

Secretary abreast of changes at the State and local level.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; Farms; 
Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 15,481.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion, Quarterly, 
Biennially, Weekly, Semi-annually, Monthly, Annually and Recordkeeping.
    Total Burden Hours: 21,655.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Organic Handler Market Promotion Assessment Exemption under 
Federal Marketing Orders.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0216.
    Summary of Collection: Marketing order programs provide an 
opportunity for producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty 
crops in specified production areas to work together to solve marketing 
problems that cannot be solved individually. Under the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), 
marketing orders may authorize production and marketing research, 
including paid advertising, to promote various commodities, which is 
paid for by assessments that are levied on the handlers who are 
regulated by the Orders.
    Section 10004 of the 2014 Farm Bill expanded the organic assessment 
exemption originally established by the FAIR Act. The 2014 Farm Bill 
allows all organic handlers to apply for an exemption from assessments 
on products certified as ``organic'' or ``100 percent organic,'' 
regardless of whether the handler also markets conventional or non-
organic products. At the same time, the 2014 Farm bill reduced the per 
response time to complete the form from 30 minutes to 15 minutes.
    Need and Use of the Information: Handlers submit the completed SC-
649 form to the appropriate committee, board or council once a year to 
apply for an assessment exemption to a certain percentage. The 
information gathered on this form is necessary to assist the 
committees, boards and councils to determine an applicant's eligibility 
assessment exemption and to verify compliance.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 210.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 53.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-11339 Filed 5-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P