83 FR 33975 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request (No. 70) for Chemist Certification Program

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 138 (July 18, 2018)

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) invites comments on the proposed information collection associated with its chemist certification program.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33975-33976]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15287]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

[Docket No. TTB-2018-0001]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request (No. 70) for 
Chemist Certification Program

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) invites 
comments on the proposed information collection associated with its 
chemist certification program.

DATES: Comments are due on or before September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: As described below, you may send comments on the proposed 
information collection using the ``Regulations.gov'' online comment 
form for this document, or you may send written comments via U.S. mail 
or hand delivery. TTB no longer accepts public comments via email or 
fax.
     https://www.regulations.gov: Use the comment form for this 
document posted within Docket No. TTB-2018-0001 on ``Regulations.gov,'' 
the Federal e-rulemaking portal, to submit comments via the internet;
     U.S. Mail: Michael Hoover, Regulations and Rulings 
Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, 
Box 12, Washington, DC 20005.
     Hand Delivery/Courier in Lieu of Mail: Michael Hoover, 
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, Suite 400, 
Washington, DC 20005.
    Please reference the proposed information collection's title in 
your comment. You may view copies of this document and all comments 
received in response to this document within Docket No. TTB-2018-0001 
at https://www.regulations.gov. A link to that docket is posted on the 
TTB website at https://www.ttb.gov/forms/comment-on-form.shtml. You may 
also obtain paper copies of this document and any comments received in 
response to this document by contacting Michael Hoover at the addresses 
or telephone number shown below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hoover, Alcohol and Tobacco 
Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street NW, Box 12, Washington, DC 20005; 
telephone (202) 453-1039, ext. 135; or email 
[email protected] (please do not submit comments on the 
proposed information collection to this email address).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), the Department of the Treasury and its Alcohol and Tobacco 
Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), as part of a continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, invite the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on the proposed information collection 
associated with TTB's chemist certification program.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be included or 
summarized in our request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval of the proposed information collection. All comments are part 
of the public record and subject to disclosure. Please do not include 
any confidential or inappropriate material in comments.
    In particular, we invite comments on: (a) Whether the information 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the agency's 
functions, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the information collection's 
burden; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; (d) ways to minimize the information 
collection's burden on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of 
operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide the 
requested information.

Chemist Certification Information Collection

    Currently, we are seeking comments on the following information 
collection:
    Title: Applications, Notices, and Record Related to the Voluntary 
Chemist Certification Program for the Analysis of Wine, Distilled 
Spirits, and Beer for Export.
    OMB Number: 1513-NEW.
    Abstract: The TTB chemist certification program, established under 
the authority of section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration 
Act (FAA Act; 27 U.S.C. 205(e)), is a voluntary program that certifies 
private industry chemists to analyze alcohol beverages and report the 
results of specific chemical analyses on alcohol beverages to the 
governments of importing countries. As a condition of importation, some 
countries require that their own government laboratories (or 
laboratories certified by their government) perform these analyses, 
while other countries allow a person certified by the government of the 
exporting country to perform the analyses. TTB conducts its chemist 
certification program as a service to the alcohol beverage industry to 
facilitate the export of domestic alcohol beverage products. This 
certification program helps ensure that chemists, enologists, brewers, 
and technicians (referred to in this document collectively as 
``chemists'') generate quality data and have the required proficiencies 
to conduct chemical analyses associated with exportation of alcohol 
beverages from the United States.
    The information collected under TTB's chemist certification program 
includes: Letterhead applications for chemist certification and 
supporting documentation such as copies of diplomas, transcripts, 
accreditation certificates, and laboratory verification statements; 
results of qualifying analyses of TTB-supplied alcohol beverage samples 
made by applicants; and miscellaneous letterhead applications and 
notices to TTB such as applications and supporting documents related to 
requests for certification in additional types of analysis, requests 
for TTB-affirmed reports of analysis, and notices of changes in 
employment place or status. TTB believes the burden associated with the 
application portion of this information collection is minimal and is 
the minimum necessary to ensure that certified chemists are 
professionally qualified to conduct analyses of alcohol beverages for 
export purposes.
    Certified chemists also must retain, and allow TTB inspection of, 
records of all analysis results conducted under the authority of a TTB 
certificate, for a period of up to two years. In addition, the 
laboratories of certified chemists must retain for a similar period, 
and allow TTB inspection of, records related to laboratory equipment, 
laboratory quality control policies, procedures and systems, analyst 
training and competence, and analysis records pertaining to certified 
tests. TTB believes that the required records are

[[Page 33976]]

usual and customary records that chemists and laboratories keep during 
the normal course of business, regardless of any TTB requirement to do 
so, and, as such, the keeping of such records imposes no additional 
burden on respondents.
    Current Actions: TTB is submitting this new information collection 
for approval by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Type of Review: Approval of new collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals; businesses and other for-profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 310.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 495.

    Dated: July 12, 2018.
Amy R. Greenberg,
Director, Regulations and Rulings Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-15287 Filed 7-17-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-31-P