96-12326. Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct an Information Collection  

  • [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]
    
    
    
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    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.
    
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    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
    
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    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
    
    

Document Information

Published:
05/16/1996
Department:
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice and request for comments.
Document Number:
96-12326
Dates:
Comments on this notice must be received by July 22, 1996 to be assured of consideration.
Pages:
24759-24760 (2 pages)
PDF File:
96-12326.pdf