[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82822-82823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26087]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-23-0059]


Notice of 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 Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention 
to request an extension and revision to the approved forms and 
information collection for marketing orders covering various vegetables 
and specialty crops.

DATES: Comments on this notice are due by January 26, 2024 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: 
(202) 720-8938; or online at https://www.regulations.gov. Comments 
should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register and will be available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business 
hours, or can be viewed at: https://www.regulations.gov. All comments 
submitted in response to this notice will be included in the record and 
will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the 
identity of individuals or entities submitting the comments will be 
made available to the public on the internet at the address provided 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Pavone, Chief, Rulemaking 
Services Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, 
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-8085; Fax: (202) 720-
8938; or Email: [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Richard Lower, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Room 1406-
S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone (202) 720-8085; Fax: (202) 720-
8938; or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Vegetable and Specialty Crops.
    OMB Number: 0581-0178.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in specified 
production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that 
cannot be solved individually. This notice covers the following 
marketing order citations: 7 CFR parts 932 (California olives), 945 
(Idaho/Oregon potatoes), 978 (Colorado potatoes), 955 (Vidalia onions), 
956 (Walla Walla onions), 958 (Idaho/Oregon onions), 959 (South Texas 
onions), 966 (Florida tomatoes), 981 (California almonds), 982 (Oregon/
Washington hazelnuts), 984 (California walnuts), 985 (Northwest 
spearmint oil), 987 (California dates), 989 (California raisins), 993 
(California dried prunes), and 999 (Specialty Crop Import Regulations).
    Marketing Order 946 (Washington potatoes) has been terminated since 
the last three-year renewal period of this information collection 
package. Currently, handling requirements for Marketing Order 993 
(California dried prunes) are suspended at the industry's request, 
meaning its information collection requirements are not active. In 
addition, the import regulation for California dried prunes, as 
contained in 7 CFR part 999.200--Regulation governing the importation 
of prunes--is indefinitely suspended, effective February 17, 2009 (74 
FR 2806).
    Marketing order requirements help ensure adequate supplies of high-
quality product and adequate returns to producers. Marketing orders are 
authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674). The Secretary of Agriculture 
oversees the marketing order operations and issues regulations 
recommended by a committee of representatives from each commodity 
industry.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
marketing orders. Under the Act, marketing orders may authorize: 
Production and marketing research, including paid advertising; volume 
regulation; reserves, including pools and producer allotments; 
container requirements; and quality control. Assessments are levied on 
handlers regulated under the marketing orders. Section 8e of the Act 
requires imports of 14 commodities to meet certain quality standards. 
Included among these commodities are some covered in this forms 
package: olives, potatoes, onion, tomatoes, walnuts, dates, dried 
prunes, and raisins.
    USDA requires several forms to be filed to enable the 
administration of each marketing order. These include forms covering 
the selection process for industry members to serve on a marketing 
order's committee or board and ballots used in referenda to amend or 
continue marketing orders.
    Under Federal marketing orders, producers and handlers are 
nominated by their peers to serve as representatives on a committee or 
board which administers each program. Nominees must provide information 
on their qualifications to serve on the committee or board. Qualified 
nominees are then appointed by the Secretary. Amendments to marketing 
orders made through Formal rulemaking must be approved in referenda 
conducted by USDA and the Secretary. For the purposes of this action, 
ballots are considered information collections and are subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. If a marketing order is amended, handlers are 
asked to sign an agreement indicating their willingness to abide by the 
provisions of the amended marketing order.
    Some forms are required to be filed with the committee or board. 
The marketing orders authorize the respective committee or board, the 
agencies responsible for local administration of the marketing orders, 
to require handlers and producers to submit certain information. Much 
of the information is compiled in aggregate and provided to the 
respective industries to assist in marketing decisions. The committees 
and boards developed forms as a means for persons to file required 
information relating to supplies, shipments, and dispositions of their 
respective commodities, and other information needed to effectively 
carry out the purpose of the Act and their respective orders, and these 
forms are utilized accordingly.
    The forms covered under this information collection require 
respondents to provide the minimum information necessary to effectively 
carry out the requirements of the marketing orders, and use of these 
forms is necessary to fulfill the intent of the Act as expressed in the 
marketing orders.

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    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the committees and authorized representatives of the USDA, including 
AMS Specialty Crops Program's regional and headquarters' staff. 
Authorized committee or board employees are the primary users of the 
information and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.32 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, handlers, processors, dehydrators, 
cooperatives, manufacturers, importers, and public members.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,190.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 61,906.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.36.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 19,617 hours.
    Comments are invited 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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0178 Vegetable and Specialty 
Crops be sent to the USDA in care of the Docket Clerk at the address 
above. All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address.
    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.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26087 Filed 11-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P