83 FR 64097 - Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 239 (December 13, 2018)

Page Range		64097-64098
FR Document		2018-26930

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces AMS's intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a 3-year extension and revision to a currently approved information collection; a voluntary customer survey concerning the delivery of official inspection, grading, and weighing services authorized under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). OMB approved this information collection as OMB 0580-0018 under Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards (GIPSA). Due to the realignment of offices authorized by the Secretary's memorandum dated November 14, 2017, which eliminated the GIPSA as a standalone agency, the grain inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now under the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and assigned a new OMB control number of 0581-0310. This voluntary survey gives customers who are primarily in the grain, oilseed, rice, lentil, dry pea, edible bean, and related agricultural commodity markets an opportunity to provide feedback on the quality of services they receive and provides AMS with information on new services that customers wish to receive. Customer feedback assists Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) with enhancing the value of services and service delivery provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing system.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64097-64098]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26930]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 239 / Thursday, December 13, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 64097]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[DOC. No. AMS-FGIS-18-0077]


Request for Extension and Revision 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 (PRA), 
this notice announces AMS's intention to request that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approve a 3-year extension and revision to 
a currently approved information collection; a voluntary customer 
survey concerning the delivery of official inspection, grading, and 
weighing services authorized under the United States Grain Standards 
Act (USGSA) and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). OMB 
approved this information collection as OMB 0580-0018 under Grain 
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards (GIPSA). Due to the realignment of 
offices authorized by the Secretary's memorandum dated November 14, 
2017, which eliminated the GIPSA as a standalone agency, the grain 
inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now under the 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and assigned a new OMB control 
number of 0581-0310.
    This voluntary survey gives customers who are primarily in the 
grain, oilseed, rice, lentil, dry pea, edible bean, and related 
agricultural commodity markets an opportunity to provide feedback on 
the quality of services they receive and provides AMS with information 
on new services that customers wish to receive. Customer feedback 
assists Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) with enhancing the 
value of services and service delivery provided by the official 
inspection, grading, and weighing system.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by February 11, 2019.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Internet: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail, hand deliver, or courier: Jennifer S. Hill, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 2410-S, Washington, DC 20250-3620. Fax: 
(202) 690-3929. Instructions: All comments should be identified as 
``FGIS customer service survey'' and should reference the date and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register. The information 
collection package and other documents relating to this action will be 
available for public inspection in the above office during regular 
business hours. All comments will be available for public inspection in 
the above office during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)). Please 
call (202) 690-3929 to arrange to inspect documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer S. Hill, Grain Marketing 
Specialist, International Affairs Division, email address: 
[email protected], telephone (202) 690-3929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress enacted the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 71 et 
seq.) and the AMA (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) to facilitate the marketing 
of grain, oilseeds, pulses, rice, and related commodities. These 
statutes provide for the establishment of standards and terms which 
accurately and consistently measure the quality of grain and related 
products, provide for uniform official inspection and weighing, provide 
regulatory and service responsibilities, and furnish the framework for 
commodity quality improvement incentives to both domestic and foreign 
buyers. FGIS establishes policies, guidelines, and regulations to carry 
out the objectives of the USGSA and the AMA. Regulations appear at 7 
CFR parts 800, 801, and 802 for the USGSA and 7 CFR part 868 for the 
AMA. The USGSA, with few exceptions, requires official inspection of 
export grain sold by grade. Official services are provided, upon 
request, for grain in domestic commerce. The AMA authorizes similar 
inspection and weighing services, upon request, for rice, pulses, 
flour, corn meal, and certain other agricultural products. There are 
approximately 9,000 current users of the official inspection, grading, 
and weighing programs. These customers are located nationwide and 
represent a diverse mixture of small, medium, and large producers, 
merchandisers, processors, exporters, and other financially interested 
parties. These customers request official services from an FGIS Field 
Office; delegated, designated, or cooperating State office; or 
designated private agency office. The goal of FGIS and the official 
inspection, grading, and weighing system is to provide timely, high 
quality, accurate, consistent, and professional service that 
facilitates the orderly marketing of grain and related commodities. To 
accomplish this goal and in accordance with E.O. 12862, FGIS seeks 
feedback from customers to evaluate the services provided by the 
official inspection, grading, and weighing programs.
    Title: Survey of Customers of the Official Inspection, Grading, and 
Weighing Programs (Grain and Related Commodities).
    OMB Number: 0581-0310.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: the Collecting information using a voluntary service 
survey provides customers of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, 
and weighing services an opportunity to evaluate, on a scale of one to 
five, the timeliness, cost-effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, and 
usefulness of those services and results, and the professionalism of 
employees. Customers provide additional comments or indicate what new 
or existing services they would use if such services were offered or 
available. FGIS uses the voluntary service survey to maintain a formal 
means of determining customers' expectations and the quality of 
official services that are delivered. To collect this information, FGIS 
would continue to conduct, over a 3-year period, an annual voluntary 
customer service survey of current and potential customers of the 
official inspection, grading, and weighing system. FGIS

[[Page 64098]]

would make the survey available to any interested party who visits our 
website or is provided the link. The survey instrument would consist of 
twelve (12) questions only; FGIS tailors subsequent survey instruments 
to earlier responses. The information collected from the survey permits 
FGIS to gauge customers' satisfaction with existing services, compare 
results from year to year, and determine what new services customers 
desire.
    The customer service survey consists of one document containing 
questions about timeliness, cost effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, 
usefulness of services and results, and the professionalism of 
employees. Some examples of survey questions include the following: ``I 
receive results in a timely manner,'' ``Official results are 
accurate,'' and ``Inspection personnel are knowledgeable.'' Customers 
assess survey questions using a one to five rating scale with responses 
ranging from ``strongly disagree'' to ``strongly agree'' or ``no 
opinion.'' The survey also asks customers about the products for which 
they primarily request service, and what percentage of their product is 
officially inspected. Customers can also provide additional comments or 
request new or existing services on the survey. The survey provides 
space for customers to provide their email addresses should they wish 
to be directly contacted about their survey responses. By obtaining 
information from customers through a voluntary customer service survey, 
FGIS believes that it will continue to improve services and service 
delivery of its official inspection, grading, and weighing programs 
that meets or exceeds customer expectations.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes (i.e., 0.167 hours) per 
response.
    Respondents: The primary respondents will be interested current or 
potential customers of the official inspection, grading, and weighing 
program who either visit the AMS Website or receive the link via 
outreach communications.
    FY 2019: Estimated Number of Respondents: 605 (i.e., 1100 total 
customers times 55% response rate = 605).
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 109 hours. (605 responses times 0.167 
hours/response plus 495 non-respondents times 0.0170 hours/response = 
109 hours).
    FY 2020: Estimated Number of Respondents: 616. (i.e., 1100 total 
customers times 56% response rate = 616).
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 111 hours (616 responses times 0.167 
hours/response plus 484 non-respondents times 0.0170 hours/response = 
111 hours).
    FY 2021: Estimated Number of Respondents: 627 (i.e., 1100 total 
customers times 57% response rate = 627).
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 105 hours (627 responses times 0.167 
hours/response plus to 473 non-respondents times 0.0170 hours/response 
= 113 hours).
    As required by the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) and its 
implementing regulations (5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(i)), AMS specifically 
requests comments 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 AMS'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. 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: December 7, 2018.
Greg Ibach,
Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2018-26930 Filed 12-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

64097

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 83, No. 239

Thursday, December 13, 2018

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER inspection, grading, and weighing commerce. The AMA authorizes similar
contains documents other than rules or system. inspection and weighing services, upon
proposed rules that are applicable to the request, for rice, pulses, flour, corn
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, DATES: We will consider comments that
we receive by February 11, 2019. meal, and certain other agricultural
committee meetings, agency decisions and products. There are approximately 9,000
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit
petitions and applications and agency
current users of the official inspection,
comments on this notice. You may
statements of organization and functions are grading, and weighing programs. These
submit comments by any of the
examples of documents appearing in this customers are located nationwide and
following methods:
section. represent a diverse mixture of small,
Internet: Go to http://
medium, and large producers,
www.regulations.gov and follow the
merchandisers, processors, exporters,
online instructions for submitting
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and other financially interested parties.
comments.
These customers request official
Agricultural Marketing Service Mail, hand deliver, or courier: Jennifer
services from an FGIS Field Office;
S. Hill, AMS, USDA, 1400
[DOC. No. AMS–FGIS–18–0077] delegated, designated, or cooperating
Independence Avenue SW, Room 2410–
State office; or designated private
S, Washington, DC 20250–3620. Fax:
Request for Extension and Revision of agency office. The goal of FGIS and the
(202) 690–3929. Instructions: All
a Currently Approved Information official inspection, grading, and
comments should be identified as ‘‘FGIS
Collection weighing system is to provide timely,
customer service survey’’ and should
high quality, accurate, consistent, and
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, reference the date and page number of
professional service that facilitates the
USDA. this issue of the Federal Register. The
orderly marketing of grain and related
ACTION: Notice and request for information collection package and
commodities. To accomplish this goal
comments. other documents relating to this action
and in accordance with E.O. 12862,
will be available for public inspection in
SUMMARY: In accordance with the FGIS seeks feedback from customers to
the above office during regular business
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 evaluate the services provided by the
hours. All comments will be available
(PRA), this notice announces AMS’s official inspection, grading, and
for public inspection in the above office
intention to request that the Office of weighing programs.
during regular business hours (7 CFR
Management and Budget (OMB) Title: Survey of Customers of the
1.27(b)). Please call (202) 690–3929 to
approve a 3-year extension and revision Official Inspection, Grading, and
arrange to inspect documents.
to a currently approved information Weighing Programs (Grain and Related
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commodities).
collection; a voluntary customer survey
Jennifer S. Hill, Grain Marketing OMB Number: 0581–0310.
concerning the delivery of official
Specialist, International Affairs Expiration Date of Approval: March
inspection, grading, and weighing
Division, email address: Jennifer.s.hill@ 31, 2019.
services authorized under the United
ams.usda.gov, telephone (202) 690– Type of Request: Extension and
States Grain Standards Act (USGSA)
3929. revision of a currently approved
and the Agricultural Marketing Act of
1946 (AMA). OMB approved this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress information collection.
information collection as OMB 0580– enacted the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.) Abstract: the Collecting information
0018 under Grain Inspection, Packers and the AMA (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) to using a voluntary service survey
and Stockyards (GIPSA). Due to the facilitate the marketing of grain, provides customers of FGIS and the
realignment of offices authorized by the oilseeds, pulses, rice, and related official inspection, grading, and
Secretary’s memorandum dated commodities. These statutes provide for weighing services an opportunity to
November 14, 2017, which eliminated the establishment of standards and evaluate, on a scale of one to five, the
the GIPSA as a standalone agency, the terms which accurately and consistently timeliness, cost-effectiveness, accuracy,
grain inspection activities formerly part measure the quality of grain and related consistency, and usefulness of those
of GIPSA are now under the products, provide for uniform official services and results, and the
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) inspection and weighing, provide professionalism of employees.
and assigned a new OMB control regulatory and service responsibilities, Customers provide additional comments
number of 0581–0310. and furnish the framework for or indicate what new or existing
This voluntary survey gives customers commodity quality improvement services they would use if such services
who are primarily in the grain, oilseed, incentives to both domestic and foreign were offered or available. FGIS uses the
rice, lentil, dry pea, edible bean, and buyers. FGIS establishes policies, voluntary service survey to maintain a
related agricultural commodity markets guidelines, and regulations to carry out formal means of determining customers’
an opportunity to provide feedback on the objectives of the USGSA and the expectations and the quality of official
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

the quality of services they receive and AMA. Regulations appear at 7 CFR parts services that are delivered. To collect
provides AMS with information on new 800, 801, and 802 for the USGSA and this information, FGIS would continue
services that customers wish to receive. 7 CFR part 868 for the AMA. The to conduct, over a 3-year period, an
Customer feedback assists Federal Grain USGSA, with few exceptions, requires annual voluntary customer service
Inspection Service (FGIS) with official inspection of export grain sold survey of current and potential
enhancing the value of services and by grade. Official services are provided, customers of the official inspection,
service delivery provided by the official upon request, for grain in domestic grading, and weighing system. FGIS

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Dec 12, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13DEN1.SGM 13DEN1

Document Created: 2018-12-13 01:15:19
Document Modified: 2018-12-13 01:15:19

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and request for comments.
Dates		We will consider comments that we receive by February 11, 2019.
Contact		Jennifer S. Hill, Grain Marketing
FR Citation		83 FR 64097

83 FR 64097 - Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAgricultural Marketing Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 239 (December 13, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service