[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8038-8040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03195]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration's (GIPSA) intention to request that the Office of
Management and Budget approve a 3-year extension and revision of a
currently approved information collection in support of the reporting
and recordkeeping requirements for the Swine Contract Library program.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may
submit comments by any of the following methods:
Internet: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting comments.
Mail, hand deliver, or courier to R. Dexter Thomas, GIPSA,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2530-S, Washington, DC 20250-
3604.
Fax to (202) 690-2173.
Instructions: All comments should refer to the date and page number
of this issue of the Federal Register. The information collection
package, public comments, and other documents relating to this action
will be available for public inspection in the above office during
regular business hours. Please
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call GIPSA's Management and Budget Services at (202) 720-7486 to
arrange a viewing of these documents.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine M. Grasso, Program Analyst,
Litigation and Economic Analysis Division at (202) 720-7201 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration is responsible for maintaining the Swine Contract
Library, which is authorized by the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR)
Act of 1999, and requires that certain packers submit hog procurement
contracts and delivery estimates to GIPSA. The LMR was reauthorized on
October 5, 2006, September 27, 2010, and September 30, 2015, for an
additional 5 years each time.
Title: Swine Contract Library.
OMB Number: 0580-0021.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2016.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The information collection and recordkeeping requirements
for the Swine Contract Library are essential to maintaining the
mandatory library of swine marketing contracts and reporting the number
of swine contracted for delivery. Currently 32 packers are required to
file contracts and report certain information on hog deliveries for a
total of 54 plants that they either operate or at which they have swine
slaughtered. We expect the overall number of plants and packers to
remain relatively constant, but the specific packers required to report
will vary with consolidation and construction in the industry.
Packers are required to report information for individual plants.
The information collection burden estimate provided below is based on
time and cost requirements at the plant level. Consequently, packers
that report for more than one plant would bear a cost that would be a
multiple of the per-plant estimates.
We understand from discussions with packers complying with current
reporting requirements that reporting packers have adapted pre-existing
data and information systems to provide the required information.
There are two types of information collections required for the
Swine Contract Library.
The first information collection requirement consists of submitting
example contracts. Initially, a packer submits example contracts
currently in effect or available for each swine processing plant that
is subject to the regulations. Subsequently, a packer submits example
contracts for any offered, new, or amended contracts that vary from
previously submitted contracts in regard to the base price
determination, the application of a ledger or accrual account, carcass
merit premium and discount schedules (including the determination of
the lean percent or other merit of the carcass that is used to
determine the amount of the premiums and discounts and how those
premiums and discounts are applied), or the use and amount of
noncarcass merit premiums or discounts. The initial submission of
example contracts requires more time than subsequent filings of new
contracts or changes, as packers initially need to review all their
contracts to identify the unique types that need to be represented by
an example contract submitted to GIPSA.
Thereafter, subsequent filings require a minimal amount of effort
on the part of packers, as only example contracts that represent a new
or different type need to be filed with GIPSA. Form P&SP-342 ``Contract
Submission Cover Sheet,'' must accompany each contract submission to
identify the contract, the plan for which the contract is valid, and
the contact person.
Packers are required to submit both written and verbal contracts.
Packers must document verbal contracts which adds to their existing
recordkeeping systems in order to comply with this requirement.
Optional form P&SP-343 ``Verbal Contract Optional Documentation
Sheet,'' provides a format to document the verbal agreement.
The second information collection requirement is a monthly filing
of summary information on form P&SP 341, Monthly Report: Estimates of
Swine To Be Delivered Under Contract. The form for the monthly filing
is simple and brief. For new packers required to start reporting, this
data should be available in the packers' existing record system. We
encourage electronic submission and provide the necessary information
on procedures to submit data to GIPSA electronically.
The estimates of time requirements used for the burden estimates
below were developed in consultation with GIPSA personnel knowledgeable
in the industry's recordkeeping practices. The estimates also reflect
our experience in assembling large amount of data during the course of
numerous investigations involving use of data collected from the
industry. Estimates of time requirements and hourly wage costs for
developing electronic recordkeeping and reporting systems are based on
our experience in developing similar systems in consultation with our
automated information systems staff.
(1) Contract Submission Cover Sheet (Form P&SP-342)
Estimate of Burden: Reporting burden for submission of contracts is
estimated to include 4 hours per plant for an initial review of all
contracts to categorize them into types and identify unique examples,
plus an additional 0.25 hours per unique contract identified during the
initial review to submit an example of that contract. After the initial
filing, the reporting burden is estimated to include 0.25 hours per
plant to submit an example of each new or amended contract.
Respondents: Packers required to report information for the Swine
Contract Library.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 32 packers (total of 54 plants).
Estimated Number of Responses per Plant: Number of responses per
plant varies. Some plants could have no contracts, while others could
have up to 80 contracts. We receive an average of six example contracts
per plant per year for offered contracts and for amended existing or
available contracts.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Initial filing: 5.5
total hours for the initial filing of examples of existing contracts by
all plants newly subject to the regulations combined. Based on changes
in the industry, we anticipate one new plant to become subject to the
regulations each year. Calculated as follows: 4 hours per plant for
initial review x 1 new plant = 4 hours for initial review; 0.25 hours
per contract x 6
example contracts per plant x 1 new plant = 1.5 hours; 4 hours + 1.5
hours = 5.5 total hours.
Thereafter, 81 total hours annually for all subsequent filing of
example contracts by all plants combined, based on an average of 6
newly offered or amended contracts annually.
Calculated as follows: 0.25 hours per contract x 6 example contracts
per plant x 54 plants = 81 hours.
Total Cost: Initial filing $138 for one expected new plant.
Calculated as follows: 5.5 hours x $25 per hour = $138
Thereafter: $2025 annually for all plants combined for submission
of subsequent filings. Calculated as follows: 81 hours x $25 per hour =
$2,025
(2) Monthly Report: Estimate of Swine To Be Delivered Under Contract
(Form P&SP-341)
Estimate of Burden: The reporting burden for compiling data,
completing
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and submitting the form is estimated to average 2 hours per manually
prepared and submitted (by mail or facsimile) report and 1 hour per
electronically prepared and submitted report. There would be an
estimated additional one-time set up burden of 1 hour at a cost of $60
per plant for a packer that chose to create a spreadsheet or database
for recordkeeping and preparation of monthly estimates. There would be
an estimated additional 2 hour burden at a cost of $60 per hour or $120
per plant for a packer to develop procedures to extract and format the
required information and to develop an interface between the packer's
electronic recordkeeping system and GIPSA's system. The hourly rate for
the development of electronic tools is assumed to be high due to the
need to use personnel with specialized computer skills.
Respondents: Packers required to report information for the Swine
Contract Library.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 32 packers (total of 54 plants).
Estimated Number of Responses per Plant: 12 (1 per month for 12
months).
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,296 hours for all
plants combined provided all plants used manual compiling, preparation,
and submission.
Calculated as follows: 2 hours per response x 54 plants x 12
responses per plant = 1,296
648 hours for all plants combined provided all plants use
electronic compiling, preparation, and submission. Calculated as
follows: 1 hour per response x 54 plants x 12 responses per plant = 648
hours.
Total Cost: $32,400 annually for all plants combined provided all
use manual submission. Calculated as follows: 1,296 x $25 per hour =
$32,400
$16,200 annually for all plants combined provided all were to
completely utilize electronic preparation and submission. Calculated as
follows: 648 hours x $25 per hour = $16,200
Additional $180 one-time set-up cost provided all plants newly
subject to the Regulations were to completely utilize electronic
systems for preparation and submission. Calculated as follows: 1 hour
build spreadsheet/database + 2 hours develop electronic interface = 3
hours. 3 hours total development x $60 per hour x 1 new plant = $180
The Paperwork Reduction Act also requires GIPSA to measure the
recordkeeping burden. Under the Packers and Stockyards Act and its
existing regulations, each packer is required to maintain and make
available upon request any records necessary to verify information on
all transactions between the packer and producers from whom the packer
obtains swine for slaughter. Records that packers are required to
maintain under existing regulations would meet the requirements for
verifying the accuracy of information required to be reported for the
Swine Contract Library. These records include original contracts,
agreements, receipts, schedules, and other records associated with any
transaction related to the purchase, pricing, and delivery of swine for
slaughter under the terms of marketing contracts. Additional annual
costs of maintaining records would be nominal since packers are
required to store and maintain such records as a matter of normal
business practice and in conformity with existing regulations.
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)) and its implementing regulations (5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)),
GIPSA specifically requests comment to:
(a) Evaluate 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;
(b) Evaluate 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;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(d) Minimize the burden on 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 the Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments
will also become a matter of public record.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506 and 5 CFR 1320.8.
Larry Mitchell,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-03195 Filed 2-16-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P