[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67331-67332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26946]
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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. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2013 /
Notices
[[Page 67331]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS-FV-13-0063; FV13-900-1]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Assessment Exemption for Organic Commodities
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. 3501), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service's (``AMS'') intention to request an extension for the forms
currently used by marketers to apply for exemption from market
promotion assessments under 22 marketing order programs.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 13, 2014.
Additional Information: Contact Andrew Hatch, Supervisory Marketing
Specialist, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406-
S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 720-2491, 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; Tel: (202) 690-3919;
or Email: [email protected].
Comments: Comments are welcome and should reference the docket
number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal
Register, as well as the appropriate Marketing Order number. Comments
may be submitted by mail to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406-
S, Washington, DC 20250-0237, or online at www.regulations.gov. All
comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office
of the Docket Clerk during regular USDA business hours, or they can be
viewed at www.regulations.gov.
All comments to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Organic Handler Market Promotion
Assessment Exemption under 26 Federal Marketing Orders.
OMB Number: 0581-0216.
Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2014.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently-approved information
collection.
Abstract: Marketing Order (``Order'') programs provide an
opportunity for producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty
crops in specified production areas to work together to solve marketing
problems that cannot be solved individually.
Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 as amended
(7 U.S.C. 601-674), Orders may authorize production and marketing
research, including paid advertising, to promote various commodities,
which is paid for by assessments that are levied on the handlers who
are regulated by the Orders.
On May 13, 2002, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7201) was amended by the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act (7 U.S.C. 7901), exempting any person who handles or
markets solely 100 percent organic products from paying these
assessments with respect to any agricultural commodity that is produced
on a certified organic farm, as defined in the Organic Foods Production
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502). A certified organic handler can apply for
this exemption by completing a ``Certified Organic Handler Application
for Exemption from Market Promotion Assessments Paid Under Federal
Marketing Orders,'' and submitting it to the applicable Marketing Order
Committee or Board.
Section 900.700 of the regulations (7 CFR Part 900.700) provides
for exemption from assessments. This notice applies to the following
Orders: 7 CFR parts 906, Oranges and grapefruit grown in Lower Rio
Grande Valley in Texas; 915, Avocados grown in south Florida; 922,
Apricots grown in designated counties in Washington; 923, Sweet
cherries grown in designated counties in Washington; 925, Grapes grown
in a designated area of southeastern California; 927, Pears grown in
Oregon and Washington; 929, Cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota,
Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in New York; 930, Tart cherries
grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
and Wisconsin; 932, Olives grown in California; 948, Irish potatoes
grown in Colorado; 955, Vidalia onions grown in Georgia; 956, Sweet
onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington and
northeast Oregon; 958, Onions grown in certain designated counties in
Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon; 959, Onions grown in South Texas;
966, Tomatoes grown in Florida; 981, Almonds grown in California; 982,
Hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington; 984, Walnuts grown in
California; 985, spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, Oregon,
and parts of Nevada and Utah; 987, Domestic dates produced or packed in
Riverside County, California; 989, Raisins produced from grapes grown
in California; and 993, Dried prunes produced in California.
The information collected is used only by authorized Marketing
Order Committee or Board employees, who are the primary users of the
information, and by authorized representatives of the USDA, including
the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Programs' regional and headquarters staff,
who are the secondary users of the information.
Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
Respondents: Respondents are eligible certified organic handlers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 55.
Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 55.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 28 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information
[[Page 67332]]
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.
Dated: November 5, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-26946 Filed 11-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P