[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34628-34629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16370]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. PY-99-006]
Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Agricultural
[[Page 34629]]
Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for a
currently approved information collection in support of the shell egg
surveillance portion of the Regulations for the Inspection of Eggs--7
CFR 57.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 27, 1999.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Shields Jones, Standardization Branch,
Poultry Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0259, Washington, DC
20250-0259, (202) 720-3506.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Regulations for the Inspection of Eggs (Egg Products
Inspection Act).
OMB Number: 0581-0113.
Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2000.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Congress enacted the Egg Products Inspection Act (21
U.S.C. 1031-1056) (EPIA) to provide, in part, a mandatory inspection
program to control the disposition of dirty and checked shell eggs; to
control unwholesome, adulterated, and inedible shell eggs that are
unfit for human consumption; and to control the movement and
disposition of imported shell eggs.
The Act authorizes the Department to issue regulations, which
provide requirements and guidelines, for both the USDA and industry to
use as the basis for common understanding to assure that only eggs fit
for human food are used for such purpose.
Under the shell egg surveillance program shell egg handlers are
required to register with USDA. Quarterly, a State or Federal
surveillance inspector visits each registered handler to verify that
shell eggs packed for consumer use are in compliance, that restricted
eggs are being disposed of properly, and that adequate records are
being maintained.
The information collection and record keeping requirements in this
request are essential to carry out the intent of Congress, to
administer the mandatory inspection program, and to take regulatory
action, in accordance with the regulations and the Act. The forms
covered under this collection require the minimum information necessary
to effectively carry out the requirements of the regulations, and their
use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the Act.
The information collected is used only by authorized
representatives: AMS, Poultry Programs' national staff; regional
directors and their staffs; Federal-State supervisors and their staffs;
and resident Federal-State graders, which includes State agencies. The
information is used to assure compliance with the Act and the
regulations and to take regulatory action. The Agency is the primary
user of the information, with the secondary user is each authorized
State agency which has a cooperative agreement with AMS.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.30 hours per response.
Respondents: State or local governments, businesses or other for-
profit, Federal agencies or employees, small businesses or
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1134.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.96.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,922 hours.
Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility , and clarity of the information to be collected; or (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 technical collection techniques or
other forms of information. Comments may be sent to:
Douglas C. Bailey, Chief, Standardization Branch, Poultry Programs,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0259, Washington, DC 20250-0259.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Dated: June 7, 1999.
D. Michael Holbrook,
Deputy Administrator, Poultry Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-16370 Filed 6-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
