82 FR 11171 - Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Assessment Exemption for Organic Commodities

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 33 (February 21, 2017)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (``AMS'') intention to request an extension for the form currently used by marketers to apply for exemption from market promotion assessments under 23 marketing order programs.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11171-11172]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03341]


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 33 / Tuesday, February 21, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 11171]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-SC-17-0005; SC-900-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Assessment Exemption for Organic Commodities

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, this 
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (``AMS'') 
intention to request an extension for the form currently used by 
marketers to apply for exemption from market promotion assessments 
under 23 marketing order programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 24, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Andrew Hatch, Supervisory 
Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty 
Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Room 
1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 720-2491, Email: 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Richard Lower, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 
0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 720-2491; or 
Email: [email protected].
    Comments are welcome and should reference the docket number and the 
date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, as well as 
the appropriate marketing order number. Comments may be submitted by 
mail to the Docket Clerk, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-
0237, or online at www.regulations.gov. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk 
during regular USDA business hours, or they can be viewed at 
www.regulations.gov.
    All comments to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Organic Handler Market Promotion Assessment Exemption under 
Federal Marketing Orders.
    OMB Number: 0581-0216.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2017.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently-approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops in specified 
production areas to work together to solve marketing problems that 
cannot be solved individually.
    Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 as amended 
(7 U.S.C. 601-674), marketing orders may authorize production and 
marketing research, including paid advertising, to promote various 
commodities, which is paid for by assessments that are levied on the 
handlers who are regulated by the Orders.
    On May 13, 2002, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (7 
U.S.C. 7901) amended the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7201), exempting any person who handles or markets 
solely 100 percent organic products from paying these assessments with 
respect to any agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified 
organic farm, as defined in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6502). A certified organic handler can apply for this exemption 
by completing a ``Certified Organic Handler Application for Exemption 
from Market Promotion Assessments Paid Under Federal Marketing 
Orders,'' and submitting it to the applicable marketing order committee 
or board.
    Section 900.700 of the regulations (7 CFR part 900.700) provides 
for exemption from assessments. This notice applies to the following 
marketing orders: 7 CFR parts 906, Oranges and grapefruit grown in 
Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; 915, Avocados grown in south Florida; 
922, Apricots grown in designated counties in Washington; 923, Sweet 
cherries grown in designated counties in Washington; 925, Grapes grown 
in a designated area of southeastern California; 927, Pears grown in 
Oregon and Washington; 929, Cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in New York; 930, Tart cherries 
grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, 
and Wisconsin; 932, Olives grown in California; 948, Irish potatoes 
grown in Colorado; 955, Vidalia onions grown in Georgia; 956, Sweet 
onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington and 
northeast Oregon; 958, Onions grown in certain designated counties in 
Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon; 959, Onions grown in South Texas; 
966, Tomatoes grown in Florida; 981, Almonds grown in California; 982, 
Hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington; 984, Walnuts grown in 
California; 985, spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, 
and parts of Nevada and Utah; 986, Pecans produced in Alabama, 
Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South 
Carolina, and Texas; 987, Domestic dates produced or packed in 
Riverside County, California; 989, Raisins produced from grapes grown 
in California; and 993, Dried prunes produced in California.
    The information collected is used only by authorized marketing 
order committee or board employees, who are the primary users of the 
information, and by authorized representatives of the USDA, including 
the AMS Specialty Crops Program's regional and headquarters staff, who 
are the secondary users of the information.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Respondents are eligible certified organic handlers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 210.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 210.

[[Page 11172]]

    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 53 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) was 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.

    Dated: February 15, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03341 Filed 2-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P