[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 57 (Friday, March 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16182-16183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06226]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-LP-20-0103]
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
notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural
Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of and revision to the
currently approved information collection used in support of the
Regulations Governing the Inspection of Eggs (as authorized by the Egg
Products Inspection Act (EPIA)), which is commonly referred to as the
Shell Egg Surveillance Program (OMB: 0581-0113).
DATES: Comments must be received by May 25, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning
this notice by using the electronic process available at
www.regulations.gov. Written comments may also be submitted to Quality
Assessment Division; Livestock and Poultry Program; AMS, USDA; 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258; Washington, DC 20250-0258. All
comments should reference the docket number AMS-LP-20-0103, the date of
submission, 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 made
available for public inspection at the above physical address during
regular business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Hartley, Branch Chief, Quality
Assessment Division; (202) 720-7316; or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview of This Information Collection
(1) Agency: USDA, AMS.
(2) Title: Regulations for the Inspection of Eggs (Egg Products
Inspection Act).
(3) OMB Number: 0581-0113.
(4) Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2021.
(5) Type of Request: Request for extension of and revision of a
currently approved information collection.
(6) Abstract: Congress enacted the EPIA (21 U.S.C. 1031-1056) to
provide, in part, a mandatory inspection program to control the
disposition of dirty and checked shell eggs; to control unwholesome,
adulterated, and inedible shell eggs that are unfit for human
consumption; and to control the movement and disposition of imported
shell eggs.
The EPIA authorized USDA to issue regulations describing how this
function would be carried out to ensure that only eggs fit for human
consumption are used for such purposes. To this end, USDA published the
EPIA, commonly referred to as the Shell Egg Surveillance Program, in 7
CFR part 57.
Under the Shell Egg Surveillance Program, shell egg handlers and
hatcheries are required to register with USDA. A State or Federal
surveillance inspector visits each registered handler quarterly to
verify that shell eggs packed for consumer use are in compliance with
the regulations (e.g., restricted eggs are not used for human
consumption, storage temperatures are maintained at 45 degrees ambient,
etc.), that restricted eggs are being disposed of properly, and that
adequate records are being maintained.
The information and recordkeeping requirements in this request are
essential to carry out the intent of Congress, to administer the
mandatory inspection program, and to take regulatory action, in
accordance with the regulations and the EPIA. The forms within this
collection package require the minimum information necessary to
effectively carry out the requirements of the regulations, and their
use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the EPIA.
The information collected is used only by authorized
representatives of the AMS Livestock and Poultry Program's Quality
Assessment Division, which includes State agencies authorized to
conduct inspections on AMS' behalf. The information is only used to
verify compliance with the EPIA and the regulations, and it is used to
facilitate regulatory action. AMS is the primary user of the
information; secondary users include each authorized State agency that
has a cooperative agreement with AMS. There have been no changes in the
Shell Egg Surveillance Program or in the information collection
requirements. There is an overall decrease of -462.85 burden hours and
a decrease of 45 respondents from the previous submission primarily due
to industry consolidation.
(7) Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average .28 hours per response.
(8) Respondents: Businesses or other for-profits, and small
businesses or organizations.
(9) Estimated Number of Respondents: 760.
(10) Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.
(11) Estimated Total Annual Responses: 5,235.50.
(12) Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,479.43 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
AMS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2)
the accuracy of AMS' 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 responses will become a matter of public
record,
[[Page 16183]]
including any personal information provided.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-06226 Filed 3-25-21; 8:45 am]
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