97-20460. Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 41921-41922]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-20460]
    
    
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    Notices
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    Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 149 / Monday, August 4, 1997 / 
    Notices
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Agricultural Marketing Service
    [Docket No. FV97-930-3 NC]
    
    
    Notice of Request for 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 [44 
    U.S.C. Chapter 35], this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
    Service's (AMS) intention to request a revision to a currently approved 
    information collection for tart cherries grown in the States of 
    Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and 
    Wisconsin, Marketing Order No. 930.
    
    DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 3, 1997 to 
    be assured of consideration.
    
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Kenneth G. Johnson, 
    Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, 
    Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. 
    Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington DC 20090, Tel: (202) 720-5053, Fax 
    (202) 720-5698.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
        Title: Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, New York, 
    Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, Marketing Order 
    No. 930.
        OMB Number: 0581-0177.
        Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1997.
        Type of Request: Revision and approval of the collection of 
    information under the marketing order for tart cherries.
        Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
    producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in a 
    specified production area, to work together to solve marketing problems 
    that cannot be solved individually. Order regulations help ensure 
    adequate supplies of high quality product and adequate returns to 
    producers. Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (7 
    U.S.C. 601-674), (AMAA), as amended, industries enter into marketing 
    order programs. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to oversee 
    the orders' operations and issue regulations recommended by a committee 
    of representatives from each commodity industry.
        Under the order, the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) 
    was established. The Board is the organization responsible for local 
    administration of the marketing order.
        The Order is administered by the 18-member Board, comprised of 17 
    producers and handlers and one public member, plus alternates for each. 
    The members will each serve for a three-year term of office. The 
    consecutive terms of office for all members and alternates will be 
    limited to two three-year terms. Since the Board terms will be 
    staggered, approximately one-third of the Board positions will be up 
    for reelection each year. Nominations and elections will be conducted 
    in a two-part process via the U.S. Mail on an annual basis. The public 
    member and alternate will be selected by the Board every three years.
        Members and alternates are appointed by the Secretary to administer 
    the marketing order program locally, and are selected from nominees 
    submitted by tart cherry producers and handlers in the production area. 
    The marketing order, and rules and regulations issued thereunder, 
    authorize the Board to require producers, handlers and processors to 
    submit certain information.
        The Board has developed forms as a convenience to persons who are 
    required to file information with the Board relating to tart cherry 
    inventories, shipments, diversions, and other information needed to 
    carry out the purposes of the Act and the Order. Since this Order 
    regulates the canned and frozen form of tart cherries, reporting 
    requirements will be in effect all year. These forms require a minimum 
    of information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of 
    the Order, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the Act 
    as expressed in the Order.
        The form being added to the currently approved tart cherry 
    information collection is a producer list for referendum form. This 
    form will be used by handlers to report the names, addresses, and 
    tonnage of tart cherries produced by the growers whose cherries the 
    handler handles. This information will be used by the Secretary to 
    verify that referendum ballots are distributed to the greatest number 
    of tart cherry growers possible. This form will be completed by the 45 
    handlers regulated under the marketing order. The time required to 
    complete this form is estimated to average 20 minutes per response. 
    Using this form increases the estimated total annual burden on 
    handlers, by 14 hours, from 990 hours to 1004 hours. Also, the number 
    of total annual responses supplied by handlers for the entire tart 
    cherry information collection increases from 5,772 to 5,817.
        The information collected is used only by authorized 
    representatives of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), including AMS, 
    Fruit and Vegetable Division regional and headquarter's staff, and 
    authorized employees of the Board. AMS is the primary user of the 
    information and authorized committee employees are the secondary user.
        Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
    information is estimated to average 0.1726 hours per response.
        Respondents: Tart cherry producers and for-profit businesses 
    handling fresh and processed tart cherries produced in Michigan, New 
    York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
        Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,268.
        Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.587.
        Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1004 hours.
        Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
    information is necessary for the functioning of the proposed tart 
    cherry marketing order program and USDA's oversight of that program; 
    (2) the accuracy of the collection burden estimate and the validity of 
    methodology and assumptions used in estimating the burden on 
    respondents; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
    
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    of the information requested; and (4) ways to minimize the burden, 
    including use of automated or electronic technologies.
        Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0177 and Marketing Order No. 
    930, and be mailed to Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, 
    USDA, Post Office Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456. 
    Comments should reference the docket number and page number of this 
    issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be available 
    for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
    USDA business hours at 14th & Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, 
    room 2525-S.
        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: July 29, 1997.
    Ronald L. Cioffi,
    Acting Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
    [FR Doc. 97-20460 Filed 8-1-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/04/1997
Department:
Agricultural Marketing Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice and request for comments.
Document Number:
97-20460
Dates:
Comments on this notice must be received by October 3, 1997 to be assured of consideration.
Pages:
41921-41922 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FV97-930-3 NC
PDF File:
97-20460.pdf