[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24759-24760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12326]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct an Information
Collection
AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5
CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the
National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) intention to request
approval for a new information collection, the Fruit, Vegetable and
Specialty Crop Marketing Order Handlers Survey.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 22, 1996 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rich Allen, Associate
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, D.C. 20250-2000, (202) 720-4333.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Order Handlers
Survey.
Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to conduct an information
collection.
Abstract: To improve its compliance under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has
contracted with the National Agricultural Statistics Service to conduct
a Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Order Handlers Survey.
Marketing Agreements and orders are authorized under the Agriculture
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (AMAA) (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The AMAA
permits regulation of certain agricultural commodities for the purpose
of providing orderly marketing conditions in interstate commerce and
improving returns to producers. AMS is charged with the oversight
responsibilities for these programs.
Marketing agreement and order programs have a unique characteristic
in government regulatory programs; they are the result of the joint
effort of government and industry representatives to improve the
[[Page 24760]]
marketing of agricultural commodities. An administrative committee,
comprised of growers and handlers appointed by the Secretary of
Agriculture, locally administers each order. A major function of these
administrative committees is to recommend to the Secretary
administrative rules and order amendments. AMS reviews administrative
committee recommendations for regulatory action and accompanying
justifications for consistency with the regulatory authorities provided
in the marketing order, as well as Department policy and the potential
impact on small businesses. Issuance of marketing order regulations
follows procedures prescribed by the Administrative Procedure Act. In
addition, the AMS must adhere to a number of other statutes in issuing
rulemaking, including the RFA.
The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory and informational
requirements to the size and scale of business entities in a manner
that is consistent with the objectives of the rule and applicable
statutes. The RFA requires agencies to identify regulatory situations
in which there is (or will be) a significant economic impact, as
measured by costs and other factors, on a substantial number of small
entities. The survey results will provide information on handler costs,
revenues, and other related factors which will allow AMS to evaluate
impacts of proposed rulemaking recommendations on handlers who may be
classified as small entities under the RFA.
These data will be collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C.
2204(a). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority
are governed by section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C.
2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-
aggregated data provided by respondents.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
Respondents: Handlers (e.g., shippers and others as defined under
the respective programs) regulated under marketing orders.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,650.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 825 hours.
Copies of this information collection and related instructions can
be obtained without charge from Larry Gambrell, the Agency OMB
Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-5778.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (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. Comments may be
sent to: Larry Gambrell, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, 14th and Independence Ave., SW, Room 4162 South
Building, Washington, DC 20250-2000. All response to this notice will
be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All
comments will also become a matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, May 8, 1996.
Donald M. Bay,
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12326 Filed 5-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-M