81 FR 52610 - Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Orders; Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 153 (August 9, 2016)

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 and revision to the approved forms and information collection for marketing orders covering various vegetable and specialty crops.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52610-52611]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18848]


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                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 153 / Tuesday, August 9, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 52610]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0055; SC16-900-2 NC]


Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Orders; Notice of 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 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension and revision to the 
approved forms and information collection for marketing orders covering 
various vegetable and specialty crops.

DATES: Comments on this notice are due by October 11, 2016 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or Internet: www.regulations.gov. Comments 
should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register and will be available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business 
hours, or can be viewed at: www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted 
in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be 
made available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of 
individuals or entities submitting the comments will be made public on 
the Internet at the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Marketing Order and 
Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Telephone: (202) 720-6862; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or Email: 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Antoinette Carter, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 
0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone (202) 720-2491; 
Fax: (202) 720-8938; or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Vegetable and Specialty Crop Marketing Orders.
    OMB Number: 0581-0178.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2017.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Agricultural Marketing Service recently changed the name 
of the ``Fruit and Vegetable Program'' to the ``Specialty Crops 
Program.'' Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in specified 
production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that 
cannot be solved individually. This notice covers the following 
marketing order citations: 7 CFR parts 932 (California olives), 945 
(Idaho/Oregon potatoes), 946 (Washington potatoes), 948 (Colorado 
potatoes), 953 (North Carolina/Virginia potatoes), 955 (Vidalia 
onions), 956 (Walla Walla onions), 958 (Idaho/Oregon onions), 959 
(South Texas onions), 966 (Florida tomatoes), 981 (California almonds), 
982 (Oregon/Washington hazelnuts), 984 (California walnuts), 985 
(Northwest spearmint oil), 987 (California dates), 989 (California 
raisins), 993 (California dried prunes), and 999 (Specialty Crop Import 
Regulation).
    Marketing Order 947 (Oregon/California potatoes) has been 
terminated since the last renewal period. Currently, the following 
marketing orders are suspended at the respective industry's request, 
meaning their handling regulations and most of their information 
collection requirements are not active: 953 (North Carolina/Virginia 
potatoes); and 993 (California dried prunes). The North Carolina/
Virginia potato marketing order, 953, is currently suspended and the 
industry will determine whether to reactivate or permanently terminate 
its marketing order by March 1, 2017. All North Carolina/Virginia 
potato forms were deleted from the previously approved OMB package. The 
California dried prune industry maintains the committee and marketing 
order 993, which work in partnership with State programs. In addition, 
the import regulation for California dried prunes, as contained in 7 
CFR 999.200--Regulation governing the importation of prunes--is 
indefinitely suspended, effective January 17, 2009 (Federal Register, 
Vol. 74 No. 11).
    Marketing order regulations help ensure adequate supplies of high 
quality product and adequate returns to producers. Marketing orders are 
authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674). The Secretary of Agriculture is 
authorized to oversee the marketing order operations and issue 
regulations recommended by a committee of representatives from each 
commodity industry.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
marketing orders. Under the Act, marketing orders may authorize: 
Production and marketing research, including paid advertising; volume 
regulations; reserves, including pools and producer allotments; 
container regulations; and quality control. Assessments are levied on 
handlers regulated under the marketing orders. Section 8e of the Act 
requires imports of 14 commodities to meet certain standards. Included 
among these commodities are some covered in this forms package; olives, 
potatoes, onions, tomatoes, walnuts, dates, dried prunes, and raisins.
    USDA requires several forms to be filed to enable the 
administration of each marketing order. These include forms covering 
the selection process for industry members to serve on a marketing 
order's committee or board

[[Page 52611]]

and ballots used in referenda to amend or continue marketing orders.
    Under Federal marketing orders, producers and handlers are 
nominated by their peers to serve as representatives on a committee or 
board which administers each program. Nominees must provide information 
on their qualifications to serve on the committee or board. Qualified 
nominees are then appointed by the Secretary. Formal rulemaking 
amendments must be approved in referenda conducted by USDA and the 
Secretary. For the purposes of this action, ballots are considered 
information collections and are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. 
If a marketing order is amended, handlers are asked to sign an 
agreement indicating their willingness to abide by the provisions of 
the amended marketing order.
    Some forms are required to be filed with the committee or board. 
The marketing orders and their rules and regulations authorize the 
respective commodities' committees and boards, the agencies responsible 
for local administration of the marketing orders, to require handlers 
and producers to submit certain information. Much of the information is 
compiled in aggregate and provided to the respective industries to 
assist in marketing decisions. The committees and boards have developed 
forms as a means for persons to file required information relating to 
supplies, shipments, and dispositions of their respective commodities, 
and other information needed to effectively carry out the purpose of 
the Act and their respective orders, and these forms are utilized 
accordingly.
    The forms covered under this information collection require 
respondents to provide the minimum information necessary to effectively 
carry out the requirements of the marketing orders, and use of these 
forms is necessary to fulfill the intent of the Act as expressed in the 
marketing orders' rules and regulations.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the committees and authorized representatives of the USDA, including 
AMS, Specialty Crops Program's regional and headquarters' staff. 
Authorized committee or board employees are the primary users of the 
information and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.26 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, handlers, processors, dehydrators, 
cooperatives, manufacturers, importers, and public members.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 17,750.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 97,129.29.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.47.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25,219.72 hours.
    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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0178 OMB Vegetable and 
Specialty Crop Marketing Orders, and be sent to the USDA in care of the 
Docket Clerk at the address above. 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 also become a matter of 
public record.
    AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act to promote 
the use of the internet and other information technologies, to provide 
increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information 
and services, and for other purposes.
    A 60-day comment period is provided to allow interested persons to 
respond to the notice.

    Dated: August 4, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-18848 Filed 8-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P