[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40193-40194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13086]


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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. 88, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 21, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 40193]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of a Request for Revision and Extension 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 of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Foreign Agricultural Service 
(FAS) to request a revision and extension from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) of a currently approved information collection for the 
Dairy Tariff-Rate Quota (TRQ) Import Licensing program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 21, 2023 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by the OMB Control number 
0551-0001, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
This portal enables respondents to enter short comments or attach a 
file containing lengthier comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include OMB Control 
number 0551-0001 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail, Courier, or Hand Delivery: BettyAnn Gonzales, 
Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 5550, Stop 1070, Washington, DC 20250-
1070.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and OMB Control Number for this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BettyAnn Gonzales, 202 720-1344, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Dairy TRQ Import Licensing Program.
    OMB Number: 0551-0001.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The currently approved information collection supports 
the Dairy TRQ Import Licensing regulation (the Regulation) (7 CFR 6.20-
6.36) which governs the administration of the import licensing system 
applicable to most dairy products subject to TRQs. The TRQs were 
established in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTS) as a result of the entry into force of certain provisions in the 
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465) that converted existing 
absolute quotas to TRQs. Imports of nearly all cheeses made from cow's 
milk (except soft-ripened cheese such as Brie) and certain non-cheese 
dairy products (including butter and dried milk) are subject to TRQs 
and the Regulation. Licenses are issued each quota year to eligible 
applicants and are valid for 12 months (January 1 through December 31). 
Only licensees may enter specified quantities of the subject dairy 
articles at the applicable in-quota tariff-rates. Importers who do not 
hold licenses may enter dairy articles only at the over-quota tariff-
rates.
    Each quota year, all applicants for historical, non-historical and 
designated licenses must certify their eligibility for the following 
quota year through the online Agricultural Trade License Administration 
System (ATLAS) platform. ATLAS has now replaced any online forms 
previously utilized before. The ATLAS application process requires 
applicants to: (1) certify they are an importer, manufacturer, or 
exporter of certain dairy products; and (2) certify they meet the 
eligibility requirements of Sec.  6.23 of the Regulation. Applicants 
for non-historical licenses must request licenses in descending order 
of preference for specific products and countries listed on the form.
    After licenses are issued, Sec.  6.26 requires licensees to 
surrender by October 1 in ATLAS any license amount that a licensee does 
not intend to enter that year. If October 1 falls on a weekend, then 
the deadline will be the next business day. These amounts are 
reallocated, to the extent practicable, to existing licensees for the 
remainder of that year based on requests submitted in ATLAS. ATLAS 
requires the licensee to complete a table listing the surrendered 
amount by license number. For reallocated quota, the licensee may 
complete an additional table listing the additional amounts requested 
by dairy article and supplying country in descending order of 
preference.
    The estimated total annual burden of 479 hours in the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) inventory for the currently approved 
information collection will decrease to 394 hours. The public reporting 
burden for this collection of currently approved license application 
process through ATLAS is estimated to average 368.5 hours; and the 
license surrender process is 25.5 hours.
    Estimate of Burden: The average burden, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering data needed, data input, and record 
keeping is estimated at .67 hour for license application and .17 hour 
for license surrender.
    Type of Respondents: Importers and manufacturers of cheese and non-
cheese dairy products, and exporters of non-cheese dairy products.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: For license application and 
license surrender under the ATLAS system: 700.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 394 hours.
    Copies of this information collection may be obtained from Dacia 
Rogers, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at 
[email protected].
    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.

[[Page 40194]]

    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be available without change, including any personal 
information provided, 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.
    Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for OMB 
approval.
    Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for 
communication of information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 
should contact [email protected].

Daniel Whitley,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-13086 Filed 6-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P