04-20272. Notice of Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

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 an extension to a currently approved information collection for Tobacco Report.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by November 8, 2004 to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact Henry R. Martin, Chief, Market Information and Program Analysis Branch, Tobacco Programs, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Stop 0280, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-0280, [phone], Fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Tobacco Report.

OMB Number: 0581-0004.

Expiration Date of Approval: 06/30/2005.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The Tobacco Statistics Act of 1929 (7 U.S.C. 501-508) provides for the collection and publication of statistics of tobacco by USDA with regard to quantity of leaf tobacco in all forms in the United States and Puerto Rico, owned by or in the possession of dealers, manufacturers, growers' cooperative associations, and others with the exception of the original growers of the tobacco.

The statistics shall show the quantity of tobacco in such detail as to types, as USDA shall deem to be practical and necessary and shall be summarized as of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year and are due within 15 days of the summarized dates.

The information furnished under the provisions of this Act shall be used only for statistical purposes for which it is supplied. No publication shall be made by USDA whereby the data furnished by any particular establishment can be identified, nor shall anyone other than the sworn employees of USDA be allowed to examine the individual reports.

The regulations governing the Tobacco Stocks and Standards Act (7 CFR part 30) issued under the Tobacco Statistics Act specifically address the reporting requirements. Tobacco in leaf form or stems is reported by types of tobacco and whether stemmed or unstemmed. Tobacco in sheet form shall be segregated as to whether for cigar wrapper, cigar binder, for cigarettes, or for other products.

Tobacco stocks reporting is mandatory. 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.

The Quarterly Report of Manufacture and Sales of Snuff, Smoking and Chewing Tobacco is voluntary. Prior to 1965, information on the manufacture and sale of snuff, smoking and chewing tobacco products was available from Treasury Department publications on the collection of taxes. With repeal of the Federal tax in 1965, the industry requested that the collection of basic data be continued to maintain the statistical series and all the major manufacturers agreed to furnish information. Federal taxes were reimposed in 1985 for snuff and chewing tobacco and the Treasury Department began reporting data on these products, but not in the detail desired by the industry. Data from this report is also used in the calculations to determine the production quotas of types of tobacco used in these products.

The Agriculture 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, shipments, and unloads.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.92 hours per response.

Respondents: Primarily tobacco dealers, manufacturers, and growers' cooperative associations including small businesses or organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 76.

Estimated Number of Responses: 304.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 278.

Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Henry R. Martin, Chief, Market Information and Program Analysis Branch, Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA Stop 0280, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-0280. All comments received will be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the same address.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: September 1, 2004.

A.J. Yates,

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.