E5-6965. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 1, 2005.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (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; (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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Regulations for Inspection of Eggs.

OMB Control Number: 0581-0113.

Summary of Collection: Congress enacted the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031-1056) (EPIA) to provide a mandatory inspection program to assure egg products are processed under sanitary conditions, are wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled; to control the disposition of dirty and checked shell eggs; to control unwholesome, adulterated, and inedible egg products and shell eggs that are unfit for human consumption; and to control the movement and disposition of imported shell eggs and egg products that are unwholesome and inedible. Regulations developed under 7 CFR Part 57 provide the requirements and guidelines for the Department and industry needed to obtain compliance. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will collect information using several forms. Forms used to collect information provide the method for measuring workload, record of compliance and non compliance and a basis to monitor the utilization of funds.

Need and Use of the Information: AMS will use the information to assure compliance with the Act and regulations, to take administrative and regulatory action and to develop and revise cooperative agreements with the States, which conduct surveillance inspections of shell egg handlers and processors. If the information is not collected, AMS would not be able to control the processing, movement, and disposition of restricted shell eggs and egg products and take regulatory action in case of noncompliance.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government; State, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 934.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly.

Total Burden Hours: 1,659.

Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products—Recordkeeping.

OMB Control Number: 0581-0110.

Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 directs the Department to develop programs that will provide and enable the marketing of agricultural products. One of these programs is the USDA voluntary inspection and grading program for dairy products where these dairy products are graded according to U.S. grade standards by a USDA grader. The dairy products so graded may be identified with the USDA grade mark. Dairy processors, buyers, retailers, institutional users, and consumers have requested that such a program be developed to assure the uniform quality of dairy products purchased. In order for any service program to perform satisfactorily, there must be written guides and rules, which in this case are regulations for the provider and user.

Need and Use of the Information: The Agricultural Marketing Service will collect information to ensure that the dairy inspection program products are produced under sanitary conditions and buyers are purchasing a quality product. The information collected through recordkeeping is routinely reviewed and evaluated during the inspection of the dairy plant facilities for USDA approval. Without laboratory testing results required by recordkeeping, the inspectors would not be able to evaluate the quality of dairy products.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 487.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping.

Total Burden Hours: 1,388.

Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Farmers Market Questionnaire.

OMB Control Number: 0581-0169.

Summary of Collection: The Transportation and Marketing (T&M) Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) conducts research to find better designs, development techniques, and operating methods for modern farmers markets under the Agency's Wholesale and Alternative Markets Program. Recommendations are made available to local decision-makers interested in constructing modern farmers markets to serve area producers and consumers. Individual studies are conducted in close cooperation with local interested parties. The information will be collected using form TM-6 “Farmers' Market Questionnaire.”

Need and Use of the Information: Conventional wisdom states that the number and size of farmers markets has grown over the last several years. Research has not been done to prove that point. The form submitted for approval will serve as a survey instrument to obtain a clearer picture of existing farmers market structure to provide a basis for the future design of modern direct marketing facilities and will provide a measure of growth over the last 4 years. T&M researchers will survey by mail, with telephone follow-up, the managers of farmers markets identified in the 2000 National Farmers Market Directory. In addition, provision will be made for e-mail reporting. These markets represent a varied range of sizes, geographical locations, types, ownership, and structure. These markets will provide a valid overview of farmers markets in the United States. Information such as the size of markets, operating times and days, retail and wholesale sales, management structure, and rules and regulations governing the markets are all important questions that need to be answered in the design of a new market. The information developed by this survey will support better designs, development techniques, and operating methods for modern farmers markets and outline improvements that can be applied to revitalize existing markets.

Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions, Federal Government, State, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 3,700.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 586.

Charlene Parker,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.