[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23883-23884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09467]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2013 /
Notices
[[Page 23883]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-FV-12-0072; FV13-902-1]
Marketing Orders for Fruit Crops; 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 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension and revision to the
approved forms and generic information collection for marketing orders
covering fruit crops.
DATES: Comments on this notice are due by June 24, 2013 to be assured
of consideration.
Additional Information: Contact Andrew Hatch, Chief, Program
Services Branch, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and
Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237,
Room 1406-S, Washington, DC, 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-6862 or
Email: [email protected].
Small businesses may request information on this notice by
contacting Jeffrey Smutny, Marketing Order and Agreement Division,
Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC, 20250-0237; Telephone (202)
720-9922 or Email: [email protected].
Comments: Comments should reference the document number and the
date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and be
mailed to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237;
Fax: (202) 720-8938); or submitted through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Marketing Orders for Fruit Crops.
OMB Number: 0581-0189.
Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2013.
Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Marketing orders 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
program citations 7 CFR parts 905 (Florida citrus), 906 (Texas citrus),
915 (Florida avocados), 917 (California pears), 920 (California
kiwifruit), 922 (Washington apricots), 923 (Washington cherries), 924
(Oregon/Washington prunes), 925 (California table grapes), 927 (Oregon/
Washington pears), and 929 (Cranberries grown in 10 States). Order
regulations help ensure adequate supplies of high quality product and
adequate returns to producers. Marketing order programs are authorized
under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (Act), as
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674). The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized
to oversee the order operations and issue 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, orders may authorize: Production and
marketing research, including paid advertising; volume regulations;
reserves, including pools and producer allotments; container
regulations; and quality control. Assessments are levied on handlers
regulated under the marketing orders.
USDA requires several forms to be filed to enable the
administration of each marketing order program. 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 order programs.
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. Nominees
are appointed by the Secretary. Formal rulemaking amendments 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 an order is amended,
handlers are asked to sign an agreement indicating their willingness to
abide by the provisions of the amended order.
Some forms are required to be filed with the committee or board.
The orders and their rules and regulations authorize the respective
commodities' committees and boards, the agencies responsible for local
administration of the 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 have 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 the
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements
of the orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the
Act as expressed in the orders rules and regulations.
The information collected is used only by authorized employees of
the committees and authorized representatives of the USDA, including
AMS, Fruit and Vegetable 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
[[Page 23884]]
is estimated to average .30 hours per response.
Respondents: Producers, handlers, processors, cooperatives, and
public members.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,950.
Estimated Number of Responses: 26,802.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.68.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,266 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of the
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.
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. All comments received will be available for public
inspection at the street address in the ``Comment'' section and can be
viewed at: www.regulations.gov.
Dated: April 16, 2013.
David R. Shipman,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-09467 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P