[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21891-21892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08924]
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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. 79, No. 75 / Friday, April 18, 2014 /
Notices
[[Page 21891]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-LPS-14-0024]
Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program; Request for Revision of a
Currently Approved Information Collection and To Merge the Collections
of OMB 0581-0124 and 0581-0128
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. Sec. 3501-20), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget, for revision of two previously approved
collections by merging them into a single information collection. AMS
recently merged the Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program's Poultry
Grading Branch and Grading and Verification Division. Due to this
organizational merger, AMS intends to combine the following
collections, 0581-0128 ``Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of
Shell Eggs--7 CFR part 56'' and 0581-0124 ``7 CFR part 54 Meats,
Prepared Meats, and Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and
Standards) and 7 CFR part 62 Quality Systems Verification Program
(QSVP).'' These collections will be combined into a single collection
retitled 0581-0128 ``Regulations for Voluntary Grading, Certification,
and Standards--7 CFR parts 54, 56, 62, and 70.''
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 17, 2014 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning
this information collection notice. Comments should be submitted online
at www.regulations.gov or sent to Michelle Degenhart, Assistant to the
Director, Quality Assessment Division, Livestock, Poultry and Seed
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 3942-S, Washington, DC
20250-0256, or by facsimile to (202) 690-2746. All comments should
reference the Doc. No. (AMS-LPS-14-0024), the date, and the page number
of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be
posted without change, including any personal information provided,
online at http://www.regulations.gov and will be made available for
public inspection at the above physical address during regular business
hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Degenhart at the above
physical address, or by email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Regulations for Voluntary Grading, Certification, and
Standards--7 CFR parts 54, 56, 62, and 70.
OMB Number: 0581-0128.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2014.
Type of Request: Revision and merger of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C.
Sec. 1621-1627) directs and authorizes the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) to develop standards of quality, grades, grading
programs, and certification services which facilitate marketing of
agricultural products, assure consumers of quality products that are
graded and identified under USDA programs. To provide programs and
services, section 203(h) of the AMA (7 U.S.C. Sec. 1622(h)) directs
and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to inspect, certify, and
identify the grade, class, quality, quantity, and condition of
agricultural products under such rules and regulations as the Secretary
may prescribe, including assessment and collection of fees for the cost
of service. The Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program recently merged the
Poultry Grading Branch and the Grading and Verification Division and
became the Quality Assessment Division (QAD). The regulations in 7 CFR
part 54, 56, and 70 provide a voluntary program for grading,
certification and standards of shell eggs, poultry products, rabbit
products, meats, prepared meats, and meat products. The regulation in 7
CFR part 62--Quality Systems Verification Program (QSVP) is a
collection of voluntary, audit based, user-fee funded programs that
allow applicants to have program documentation and program processes
assessed by AMS auditor(s) and other USDA officials. QSVP is user-fee
programs based on the approved hourly rate established under 7 CFR part
62. AMS also provides other types of voluntary services under these
regulations, e.g., contract and specification acceptance services and
verification of product, processing, further processing, temperature,
and quantity. Because this is a voluntary program, respondents request
or apply for the specific service they wish, and in doing so, they
provide information. The information collected is used only by
authorized representatives of the USDA (AMS, Livestock, Poultry and
Seed Program's Quality Assessment Division national and field staff,
which includes State agencies.) Examples of information collected
includes, but not limited to: total received volume in pounds or cases,
volume in pounds of graded, processed and reprocessed products, case
volume of graded product, applicant's name, billing and facility
address, commitment hours and requests for approval of commodity
specifications or chemical compounds and is used to conduct services
requested by respondents. The Agency is the primary user of the
information. The information collection requirements in this request
are essential to carry out the intent of the AMA, to provide the
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the
program.
0581-0128: Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs--7
CFR Part 56
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .227 hours per response.
Respondents: Shell Egg industry or other for-profit businesses.
State or local governments, businesses or other for profits, and small
businesses or organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 658 respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 23,145.5 responses.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 35.18 responses.
[[Page 21892]]
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,254.20 hours.
0581-0124: 7 CFR Part 54 Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products
(Grading, Certification, and Standards) and 7 CFR Part 62 Quality
Systems Verification Program (QSVP)
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .22 hours per response.
Respondents: Livestock and meat industry or other for-profit
businesses. State or local governments, businesses or other for
profits, and small businesses or organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 83 respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 5,998 responses.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 72.3 responses.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,330 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 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 become a matter of public
record.
Dated: April 15, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-08924 Filed 4-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P