[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 53638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26762]
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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
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 193 / Tuesday, October 6, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 53638]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. PY-98-007]
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 for and revision to a currently approved
information collection in support of the Regulations Governing the
Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs--7 CFR part 56.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 7, 1998.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Shields Jones, Standardization Branch,
Poultry Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0259, Washington, DC
20050-0259, (202) 720-3506.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell eggs.
OMB Number: 0581-0128.
Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 1999.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The regulations provide a voluntary program for grading
shell eggs on the basis of U.S. standards, grades, and weight classes.
In addition, the shell egg industry and users of the products have
requested that other types of voluntary services be developed and
provided under these regulations; e.g., contract and specification
acceptance services and certification of quantity. This voluntary
grading service is available on a resident basis or on an as-needed
basis. A fee for service is paid by the user.
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 1087-1091, as
amended; 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA) directs and authorizes the
Department to develop standards of quality, grades, grading programs,
and services which facilitate trading of agricultural products and
assure consumers of quality products which are graded and identified
under USDA programs.
To provide programs and services, section 203(h) of the AMA directs
and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to inspect, certify and
identify, 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 the service.
Because this is a voluntary program, respondents need to request or
apply for the specific service they wish, and in doing so, they provide
information. Since the AMA requires that cost of service be assessed
and collected, there is no alternative but to provide programs on a
fee-for-service basis and to collect the information needed to
establish the cost.
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. This information collection includes requesting, applying for,
or terminating service; applying for a license to grade poultry
products; maintaining the volume of poultry products received,
processed, or graded; and requesting the approval of certification of
specialized contract services.
The information collected is used only by authorized
representatives of the USDA (AMS, Poultry Programs' national staff;
regional directors and their staffs; Federal-State supervisors and
their staffs; and resident Federal-State graders, which includes State
agencies). The information is used to administer and to conduct and
carry out the grading services requested by the respondents. The Agency
is the primary user of the information, and the secondary user is each
authorized State agency which has a cooperative agreement with AMS.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.234 hours per response.
Respondents: State or local governments, businesses or other for-
profit, Federal agencies or employees, small businesses or
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 643.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 37.14.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,602 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Shields
Jones, Standardization Branch, at (202) 720-3506.
Send comments regarding, but not limited to, the following: (a)
Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; or (d) 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, to: Douglas C. Bailey, Chief,
Standardization Branch, Poultry Programs, Agricultural Marketing
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Stop 0259, Washington, DC 20250-0259.
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.
Dated: October 1, 1998.
D. Michael Holbrook,
Deputy Administrator, Poultry Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-26762 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
