[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76719-76720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24557]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 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 December 7, 2023. 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: National Science Laboratories.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) administers programs that create domestic and 
international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, 
fiber, and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agricultural industry 
with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of 
wholesome food for consumers across the country and around the world.
    AMS' Science & Technology Program (S&T) provides scientific, 
certification and analytical services to the agricultural community to 
improve the quality, wholesomeness and marketing of agricultural 
products domestically and internationally. S&T provides support to USDA 
Agencies, Federal and State agencies, and private sector food and 
agricultural industries. S&T is organized into four divisions:

[[Page 76720]]

Laboratory Approval & Testing Division (LATD); Monitoring Programs 
Division (MPD); the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO); and the 
Seed Regulatory and Testing Division (SRTD). AMS' S&T, LATD provides 
analytical lab testing and approval services to facilitate domestic and 
international marketing of food and agricultural commodities. AMS, 
LATD's National Science Laboratories (NSL) provides objective, timely, 
and cost-effective analytical testing services to facilitate marketing 
of food and agricultural products. Regulations implementing AMS' NSL 
appear at 7 CFR part 91.
    Pursuant to this authority, AMS' National Science Laboratories 
(NSL) is a fee-for-service lab network (7 CFR parts 91) utilized by 
both industry and government. Through laboratories located in Gastonia, 
NC, and Blakely, GA, NSL provides chemical, microbiological, and bio-
molecular analyses on food and agricultural commodities. NSL provides 
testing service for AMS commodity programs, other USDA agencies, 
Federal and State agencies, US Military, research institutions, and 
private sector food and agricultural industries.
    Need and Use of the Information: The National Science Laboratories 
(NSL) collects, voluntarily from the applicant, customer/business 
information and specific information about the sample(s) being 
submitted to perform chemical, microbiological, and bio-molecular 
analyses on food and agricultural commodities, provide an analytical 
report/certificate, and collect payment for services. The customer/
business information requested is used by the Administrative Officer to 
identify the applicant in the billing system, to set up an account in 
the billing system and contact the party responsible for payment of the 
fee for services. The Sample information documentation requested, to be 
provided with sample(s), is used by NSL staff to uniquely identify 
sample, sample conditions, and requested analytical test(s). This is a 
``fee for service'' program with voluntary participation. All costs are 
recovered. Only information essential to provide service is requested.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 490.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2613.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-24557 Filed 11-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P