2024-18505. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received by September 18, 2024. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function

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: Laboratory Approval Programs.

OMB Control Number: 0581-0251.

Summary of Collection: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agricultural industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food for consumers across the country and around the world. AMS' Science & Technology Program (S&T) provides scientific, certification and analytical services to the agricultural community to improve the quality, wholesomeness, and marketing of agricultural products domestically and internationally. S&T provides support to USDA Agencies, Federal and State agencies, and private sector food and agricultural industries.

Need and Use of the Information: This information can be provided on documentation from the applicant or by using ST-2 or ST-3, provided by NSL. Each sample must be identified with the name of applicant, billing information, product type (sample description), lot number of production date, analyses desired, and any other information which is required by the applicant to be included on the certificate/report. The information is used to perform chemical, microbiological, and bio-molecular analyses on food and agricultural commodities and provide an analytical certificate/report of the results.

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

Number of Respondents: 3,620.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting; Monthly; On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 2,025.

Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: Generic Information Collection and Clearance of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.

OMB Control Number: 0581-0269.

Summary of Collection:Executive Order 12862 directs Federal agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. Improving Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) programs requires ongoing assessment of service delivery, by which we mean systematic review of the operation of a program compared to a set of explicit or implicit standards, as a means of contributing to the continuous improvement of the program.

Need and Use of the Information: The information collection activity will garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration's commitment to improving service delivery. By qualitative feedback we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. This feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and actionable communications between AMS and its customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management.

Feedback collected under this generic clearance will provide useful information, but it will not yield data that can be generalized to the overall population. This type of generic clearance for qualitative information will not be used for quantitative information collections that are designed to yield reliably actionable results, such as monitoring trends over time or documenting program performance. Such data uses require more rigorous designs that address: the target population to which generalizations will be made, the sampling frame, the sample design (including stratification and clustering), the precision requirements or power calculations that justify the proposed sample size, the expected response rate, methods for assessing potential non-response bias, the protocols for data collection, and any testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior fielding the study. Depending on the degree of influence the results are likely to have, such collections may still be ( print page 67058) eligible for submission for other generic mechanisms that are designed to yield quantitative results.

Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit Institutions and State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 100,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 50,000.

Levi S. Harrell,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.