2023-18467. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 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 27, 2023. 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: Tobacco Reports.

OMB Control Number: 0581–0004.

Summary of Collection: The authority for the mandatory collection of information on Form TB–26, Tobacco Stocks Report, is Public Law 661, commonly known as the Tobacco Statistics Act (7 U.S.C. 501–508) enacted in 1929. The Act directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), to collect statistics on the quantities of leaf tobacco held by dealers and manufacturers in the United States and Puerto Rico.

The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627) directs and authorizes USDA to collect, tabulate, and disseminate statistics on marketing agricultural products including market supplies, storage stocks, quantity, quality and condition of such products in various positions in the marketing channel, utilization of sub-products, shipment, and unloads.

Need and Use of the Information: The basic purpose of the information collection is to ascertain the total supply of unmanufactured tobacco available to domestic manufacturers and to calculate the amount consumed in manufactured tobacco products. This data is also used for the calculation of production quotas for individual types of tobacco and for price support calculations. Without the information, USDA would not be able to disseminate marketing information as directed and authorized in the Act.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 44.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 156.

Levi S. Harrell,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.