[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48427-48428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15880]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[DOCKET #: RBS-23-NONE-0015]


Notice of Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) announces its intention to 
request a revision of a currently approved information collection 
package for Voluntary Labeling Program for Biobased Products.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 25, 2023 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically by the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, https://www.regulations.gov. In the ``Search for 
dockets and documents on agency actions'' box enter the Docket No. RBS-
23-NONE-0015 and click the ``Search'' button. From the search results, 
click on or locate the document title: ``Notice of Revision of a 
Currently Approved Information Collection'' and select the ``Comment'' 
button. Before inputting comments, commenters may review the 
``Commenter's Checklist'' (optional). Insert comments under the 
``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if available), 
input email address and select ``Submit Comment.'' Information on using 
Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, 
submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the 
comment period, is available through the site's ``FAQ'' link.
    All comments will be available for public inspection online at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov).
    Other Information: Additional information about Rural Development 
and its programs is available on the internet at https://www.rd.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Anne Mathis, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250, Telephone: 202-713-7565, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that the 
Agency is submitting to OMB for revision.
    Comments are invited on (a) 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; (b) 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; (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 appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Title: Voluntary Labeling Program for Biobased Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0071.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 9002(h) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
Act (FSRIA) of 2002, as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act (FCEA) of 2008, the Agricultural Act of 2014, and the Agricultural 
Improvement Act of 2018, requires the Secretary of Agriculture to 
implement a Voluntary Labeling Program that would enable qualifying 
biobased products to be certified with a ``USDA Certified Biobased 
Product'' label. USDA subsequently published the terms and conditions 
for voluntary use of the label, which can be found in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 7 CFR part 3202.

[[Page 48428]]

    To implement the statutory requirements of FSRIA, USDA will gather 
relevant product information on biobased products for which 
manufacturers and vendors seek certification to use the label. 
Participation in the Voluntary Labeling Program is entirely voluntary.
    The information collected will enable USDA to evaluate the 
qualifications of biobased products to carry the USDA Certified 
Biobased Product label and to ensure that the label is used properly 
and in accordance with the requirements specified in 7 CFR part 3202. 
To the extent feasible, the information sought by USDA can be 
transmitted electronically using the website http://www.biopreferred.gov. If electronic transmission of information is not 
practical for some applicants, USDA will provide technical assistance 
to support the transmission of information to USDA.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.4 hours per response.
    Respondents: Manufacturers and vendors who wish to apply the ``USDA 
Certified Biobased Product'' label to their biobased products. 
Participation is voluntary.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.75.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 825.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,988 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from 
Katherine Anne Mathis, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations 
Management Division, at (202) 713-7565. Email: 
[email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA Rural 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-15880 Filed 7-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P