2023-08660. Tobacco Inspection and Grading Services: 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, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for an extension to the currently approved information collection in support of the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004, the Rural Development, Food and Drug Administrative, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2002 (Appropriations Act), and the Tobacco Inspection Act and Regulations Governing the Tobacco Standards.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by June 23, 2023 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning this notice by using the electronic process available at https://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the document number and the date and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register . Written comments may be submitted via mail to Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406. All comments received will be posted without change, including any personal information provided, at https://www.regulations.gov and will be included in the record and 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 publicly disclosed. Comments may be submitted anonymously.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, Telephone [phone] or Email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Reporting and Recording Requirements for 7 CFR part 29.

OMB Number: 0581–0056.

Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2023.

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

Abstract: The Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511–511s) requires that all tobacco sold at designated auction markets in the U.S. be inspected and graded. The Appropriations Act (7 U.S.C. 511s note) requires that all tobacco eligible for price support in the U.S. be inspected and graded. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 518–519a) eliminated price supports and marketing quotas for all tobacco beginning with the 2005 crop year. Mandatory inspection and grading of domestic and imported tobacco was eliminated as well as the mandatory pesticide testing of imported tobacco and the tobacco market news program. The Tobacco Inspection Act also provides for interested parties to request inspection, pesticide testing, and grading services on a permissive basis. The information collection requirements authorized for the programs under the Tobacco Inspection Act and the Appropriations Act include: application for inspection of tobacco, application and other information used in the approval of new auction markets or the extension of services to designated tobacco markets, and the information required to be provided in connection with auction and nonauction sales.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.60 hours per response.

Respondents: Primarily tobacco companies, tobacco manufacturers, import inspectors, and small businesses or organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 48.

Estimated Number of Responses: 2,415.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,651.

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.

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.

Melissa Bailey,

Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.