2017-08291. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 20, 2017.

The Department of Agriculture will submit the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 on or after the date of publication of this notice. Comments are requested regarding: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 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 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), New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC; New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [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 by May 25, 2017. 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: Organic Handler Market Promotion Assessment Exemption.

OMB Control Number: 0581-0216.

Summary of Collection: Industries enter into a marketing order program under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act (AMAA) of 1937, as amended by U.S.C. 601-674. Marketing Order programs provide an opportunity for producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops, in specified production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that cannot be solved individually. In 2002, section 501 of the FAIR Act was amended (7 U.S.C. 7401) to exempt any person that produces and markets solely 100 percent organic products, and that does not produce any conventional or non-organic products, from paying assessments under a commodity promotion law with respect to any agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified organic farm as defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.

Section 10004 of the 2014 Farm Bill expanded the organic assessment exemption originally established by the FAIR Act. The 2014 Farm Bill allows all organic handlers to apply for an exemption from assessments on products certified as “organic” or “100 percent organic,” regardless of whether the handler also markets conventional or non-organic products. At the same time, the 2014 Farm bill reduced the per response time to complete the form from 30 minutes to 15 minutes.

Need and Use of the Information: Handlers submit the completed SC-649 form to the appropriate committee, board or council once a year to apply for an assessment exemption to a certain percentage. The information gathered on this form is necessary to assist the committees, boards and councils to determine an applicant's eligibility assessment exemption and to verify compliance.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.

Number of Respondents: 190.

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

Total Burden Hours: 48.

Charlene Parker,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.