E8-3652. Information Collection; United States Warehouse Act (USWA)

AGENCY:

Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection process associated with the regulations, licensing and electronic provider agreements issued under the United States Warehouse Act (USWA).

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received on or before April 28, 2008 to be assured consideration.

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments on this Notice. In your comment, include volume, date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

Mail: Judy Fry, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Warehouse and Inventory Division, Farm Service Agency (FSA), United States Department of Agriculture, STOP 0553, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0553, Fax [phone],

E-mail: Send comments to [e-mail].

Comments also should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judy Fry, telephone [phone]; or at [e-mail]. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of regulatory information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at [phone] (voice and TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: United States Warehouse Act (USWA).

OMB Control Number: 0560-0120.

Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2008.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The Secretary of Agriculture authorizes FSA under the USWA to license public warehouse operators that are in the business of storing agricultural products; to examine such federally-licensed warehouses; and to license qualified persons to sample, inspect, weigh, and grade agricultural products. The FSA licenses under the USWA over 50 percent of all commercial grain and cotton warehouse capacities in the United States. The regulations as issued govern the establishment and maintenance of electronic systems under which electronic documents including title documents on shipment, payment and financing that may be issued or transferred for any agricultural product.

This information collection allows the FSA to effectively administer the regulations, licensing and electronic provider agreements and related reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the USWA. The forms in this information collection are used to provide those charged with issuing licenses under the USWA as a basis to determine whether the warehouse and the warehouse operator meet application requirements to receive a license, and to determine compliance once the license is issued.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 0.41 hours per response.

Respondents: Warehouse operators and electronic providers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.

Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 25,795 Hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,626 Hours.

Comments are invited on the following:

(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 collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information technology; or

(4) Ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on those who are to respond through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

All comments received in response to this notice, including names and addresses when provided, will be made a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the information collection.

Signed in Washington, DC on February 20, 2008.

Glen L. Keppy,

Administrator, Farm Service Agency.