2017-05297. Tobacco Report: Notice of Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved information collection for Tobacco Report (OMB No. 0581-0004).

DATES:

Comments received by May 16, 2017 will be considered.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments may be submitted to the addresses specified below. All comments will be made available to the public. Please do not include personally identifiable information (such as name, address, or other contact information) or confidential business information that you do not want publically disclosed. All comments may be posted on the Internet and can be retrieved by most Internet search engines. Comments may be submitted anonymously.

Comments, identified by AMS-CN-17-0012, may be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Please follow the instructions for submitting comments. In addition, comments may be submitted by mail or hand delivery to Cotton Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406. Comments should be submitted in triplicate. All comments received will be made available for public inspection at Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406. A copy of this document may be found at: www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406, telephone [phone], facsimile [phone], or email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Tobacco Report.

OMB Number: 0581-0004.

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2017.

Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection.

Abstract: The Tobacco Statistics Act of 1929 (7 U.S.C. 501-508) provides for the collection and publication of tobacco statistics by USDA with regard to quantities of leaf tobacco in all forms in the United States and Puerto Rico, owned by or in the possession of dealers, manufacturers, and others, with the exception of the original growers of the tobacco.

Inventory information about different tobacco products is reported on a quarterly basis, as of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year, and is due within 15 days of those dates.

The information furnished under the provisions of this Act is used only for the statistical purposes for which it is supplied. No publication shall be made by USDA whereby the data furnished by any particular establishment can be identified, nor shall anyone other than the sworn employees of USDA be allowed to examine the individual reports.

The regulations governing the Tobacco Stocks and Standards Act (7 CFR part 30) issued under the Tobacco Statistics Act (7 U.S.C. 501-508) specifically address the reporting requirements. Tobacco in leaf form or stems is reported by types of tobacco and whether it is stemmed or unstemmed. Tobacco in sheet form is segregated as to whether it is to be used for cigar wrappers, cigar binders, for cigarettes, or for other products.

Tobacco stocks reporting is mandatory. The basic purpose of the information collection is to ascertain the total supply of unmanufactured tobacco available to domestic manufacturers and to calculate the amount consumed in manufactured tobacco products.

The Quarterly Report of Manufacture and Sales of Snuff, Smoking and Chewing Tobacco is voluntary. Information on the manufacture and sale of snuff, smoking and chewing tobacco products is available from Treasury Department publications based on the collection of taxes, but not in the detail desired by the industry. All major tobacco manufacturers agreed to furnish information to AMS for this report.

The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) directs and authorizes USDA to collect, tabulate and disseminate statistics on marketing agricultural products including market supplies, storage stocks, quantity, quality, condition of such products in various positions in the marketing channel, utilization of sub-products, shipments, and unloads.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.87 hours per response.

Respondents: Primarily tobacco dealers and manufacturers, including small businesses or organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 120.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 104.

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. Comments may be sent to Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406, telephone [phone], facsimile [phone], or email at [e-mail].

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: March 13, 2017.

Bruce Summers,

Acting Administrator.