[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78988-78989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26882]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FGIS-20-0080]


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: This notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's 
(AMS) intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approve a 3-year extension of a currently approved information 
collection for the ``Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under the 
United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) and under the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA).'' This approval is required under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 8, 2021 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice by using the electronic process available at 
www.regulations gov. All comments should reference the docket number 
(same number as above assigned by Originating Program), the date, and 
the page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
received will be posted without change, including any personal 
information provided, at www.regulations.gov and will be included in 
the record and made available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Gregory J. Giese USDA AMS; 
Telephone: (816) 867-2451; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress enacted the United States Grain 
Standards Act (USGSA) (7 U.S.C. 71-87k) and the Agricultural Marketing 
Act (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) to facilitate the marketing of grain, 
oilseeds, pulses, rice, and related commodities. These statutes provide 
for the establishment of standards and terms which accurately and 
consistently measure the quality of grain and related products, provide 
for uniform official inspection and weighing, provide regulatory and 
service responsibilities, and furnish the framework for commodity 
quality improvement incentives to both domestic and foreign buyers. 
AMS's Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) establishes policies, 
guidelines, and regulations to carry out the objectives of the USGSA 
and the AMA. Regulations appear at 7 CFR 800, 801, and 802 for the 
USGSA and 7 CFR 868 for the AMA.
    The USGSA, with few exceptions, requires official inspection of 
export grain sold by grade. Official services are provided, upon 
request, for grain in domestic commerce. The AMA authorizes similar 
inspection and weighing services, upon request, for rice, pulses, 
flour, corn meal, and certain other agricultural products. Conversely, 
the regulations promulgated under the USGSA and the AMA require 
specific information collection and recordkeeping necessary to carry 
out requests for official services. Applicants for official services 
must specify the kind and level of service, the identification of the 
product, the location, the amount, and other pertinent information in 
order that official personnel can efficiently respond to their needs.
    Official services under the USGSA are provided through FGIS field 
offices and delegated and/or designated State and private agencies. 
Delegated agencies are State agencies delegated authority under the 
USGSA to provide official inspection service, Class X or Class Y 
weighing services, or both, at one or more export port locations in the 
State. Designated agencies are State or local governmental agencies or 
persons designated under the USGSA to provide official inspection 
services, Class X or Class Y weighing services, or both, at locations 
other than export port locations. State and private agencies, as a 
requirement for delegation and/or designation, must comply with all 
regulations, procedures, and instructions in accordance with provisions 
established under the USGSA. FGIS field offices oversee the

[[Page 78989]]

performance of these agencies and provide technical guidance as needed.
    Official services under the AMA are performed, upon request, on a 
fee basis for domestic and export shipments either by FGIS employees, 
individual contractors, or cooperators. Contractors are persons who 
enter into a contract with FGIS to perform specified sampling and 
inspection services. Cooperators are agencies or departments of the 
Federal Government which have an interagency agreement, State agencies, 
or other entities which have a reimbursable agreement with FGIS.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements (United States 
Grain Standards Act and Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946).
    OMB Number: 0581-0309.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2021.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The USGSA and the AMA authorize USDA to inspect, certify 
and identify the class, quality, quantity and condition of agricultural 
products shipped or received in interstate and foreign commerce.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting and record keeping burden for 
this collection of information is estimated to average .13 hours per 
response.
    Respondents: Grain producers, buyers, and sellers, elevator 
operators, grain merchandisers, and official grain inspection agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,666.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 143.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 161,614 hours.
    As required by the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) and its 
implementing regulations (5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(i)), AMS specifically 
requests comments 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 notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-26882 Filed 12-7-20; 8:45 am]
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