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.

Notices Federal Register

15559 

Vol. 79, No. 54 

Thursday, March 20, 2014 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. No. AMS–ST–14–0021] 

Notice of Request for Extension and 

Revision of a Currently Approved 

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 that the Agricultural 

Marketing Service’s (AMS) intention to 

request approval, from the Office of 

Management and Budget, for an 

extension of and revision to the 

currently approved information 

collection ‘‘Laboratory Approval 

Programs’’. 

DATES: Comments received by May 19, 

2014 will be considered. 

Additional Information or Comments: 

Interested persons are invited to submit 

comments on this proposal to Jane Ho, 

Laboratory Approval and Testing 

Division, Science and Technology, 

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0272, 

Washington, DC 20250–0272; Phone 

202–690–0621, Fax 202–720–4631. 

Comments should be submitted in 

triplicate. Comments may also be 

submitted electronically through http:// 

www.regulations.gov. All comments 

should reference the docket number and 

page number of this issue of the Federal 

Register. All comments received will be 

made available for public inspection at 

the above address during regular 

business hours and may be viewed at 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Laboratory Approval Programs. 

OMB Number: 0581–0251. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 

September 30, 2014. 

Type of Request: Extension and 

Revision of a Currently Approved 

Information Collection. 

Abstract: Under the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 

U.S.C. 1621–1627), AMS provides 

analytical testing services that facilitate 

marketing and allow products to obtain 

grade designations or meet marketing or 

quality standards. Pursuant to this 

authority, AMS develops and maintains 

laboratory approval programs as needed 

by the agricultural industry, to support 

domestic and international marketing of 

U.S. products. The laboratory approval 

programs will remain voluntary and fee 

for service. 

To ensure that a laboratory is capable 

of accurately performing the specified 

analyses, it must adhere to certain good 

laboratory practices and show technical 

proficiency in the required areas. 

Checklists and forms have been 

developed that ask the laboratory for 

information concerning procedures, the 

physical facility, employees, and their 

training. The laboratory must also 

provide Standard Operating Procedures 

(SOPs) for the analyses and quality 

assurance. Most of the laboratory 

programs will include an on-site 

laboratory review. AMS will not 

approve a laboratory unless there is 

assurance that the laboratory is capable 

of performing accurate analyses. 

The information collection 

requirements in this request are 

essential to examine laboratories for 

entrance into the following programs: 

(1) Analyst and Laboratory 

Certification Program for the Detection 

of Trichinae in Pork (An export program 

requested by Food Safety and Inspection 

Service). 

(2) Laboratory approval program for 

Poultry and Pork Exported from the 

United States to Russia (An export 

program requested by Food Safety and 

Inspection Service). 

This program contains the possibility 

of performing 12 different analyses in 

support of the exportation of poultry 

and pork to Russia. Laboratories choose 

how many and which analyses for 

which they wish to be approved. Each 

of microbiological/chemical analyses 

has its own methodology and time 

necessary to perform the analyses. 

(3) Beta Agonists Program (An export 

program requested by Food Safety and 

Inspection Service). This is a new 

program, which has been added to the 

laboratory approval programs, since the 

last submission. 

This program permits qualified 

laboratories to analyze meat and meat 

products to confirm that Beta Agonists 

drug residues are not present in product 

samples. 

(4) Aflatoxin in Pistachios Program (A 

High Performance Liquid 

Chromatography (HPLC) method for 

exporting pistachios to European Union 

(developed for the California Pistachio 

Committee) and the domestic program 

using HPLC or a test kit analysis method 

(7 CFR part 983); Aflatoxin in Peanuts 

Program (7 CFR part 996); and Aflatoxin 

in Almonds Program (developed for the 

Almond Board of California). 

These programs are single analyte, 

single substrate programs, but the 

domestic pistachio, peanut, and almond 

programs have the option of using two 

different methods. The export pistachio 

program and export almond program 

must use the specified method. 

(5) Any additional programs which 

may be requested in the future to 

facilitate the marketing of U.S. 

agricultural products. 

All laboratory approval programs will 

follow the same general pattern. There 

would be a letter of intent, a form for 

identification of the analyses they 

intend to perform, an on-site laboratory 

review, analysis of known samples, and 

analysis of proficiency samples. The 

length of time required would depend 

on the complexity of the analysis, and 

the time necessary to perform the 

analysis. 

The burden hours incurred for these 

laboratories to submit the initial letter 

requesting entrance, completion of a 

general laboratory checklist, and 

correctly analyzing the test samples is a 

one-time occurrence. Once a laboratory 

is accepted, the burden will decrease 

and is then based on the various 

laboratories analyzing test samples 

throughout the year to maintain its 

program status. 

Form ST–212 (Alternate Payment 

Form) is an option for applicant/

approved laboratories to pay for the 

services. Interested parties can obtain a 

copy of the form (ST–212) by calling or 

writing to the point of contact listed 

above. The information collection 

requirements in this request are 

essential to examine laboratories for 

entrance into the programs. 


ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
15560 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 2014 / Notices 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 9.25 hours per 

response. 

Respondents: Laboratories. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

85. 

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 

680. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 8. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 6289.68. 

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 Jane Ho, 

Laboratory Approval and Testing 

Division, Science and Technology, 

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0272, 

Washington, DC 20250–0272; Phone 

202–690–0621, Fax 202–720–4631. 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: March 7, 2014. 

Anne Alonzo, 

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–06085 Filed 3–19–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Docket No. AMS–TM–14–14–0029; TM–14– 

02] 

Farmers’ Market and Local Food 

Promotion Program: Notice of 

Emergency Approval of New 

Information Collection for Local Food 

Promotion Program 

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 

emergency approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for a 

new collection under the Farmers’ 

Market and Local Food Promotion 

Program. The Farmers’ Market and 

Local Food Promotion Program, 

includes two AMS competitive grant 

programs: Farmers’ Market Promotion 

Program (FMPP) and Local Food 

Promotion Program (LFPP). This new 

collection establishes forms and 

documentation under the Local Food 

Promotion Program. 

DATES: Comments received by May 19, 

2014 will be considered. 

Additional Information: Contact 

James Barham, Marketing Services 

Division, Transportation and Marketing 

Program, Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS), USDA; 202/720–8317. 

ADDRESSES: Contact James Barham, 

Marketing Services Division, 

Transportation and Marketing Program, 

AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., Room 4509-South 

Building, Washington, DC 20250; 202/

720–8317, or fax 202/690–0031. 

Comments should AMS–TM–14– 

0029, TM–14–02 and be sent to James 

Barham at the above address or via the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Local Food Promotion Program 

OMB Number: 0581–NEW. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 6 

months from publication request. 

Type of Request: Emergency request 

for a new collection. 

Abstract: The Farmers Market 

Promotion Program (FMPP) was initially 

created by amending the Farmer-toConsumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 

(7 U.S.C. 3001–3006) through the Farm 

Security and Rural Investment Act of 

2002 (7 U.S.C. 3005) (2002 Farm Bill). 

It was reauthorized, amended, and 

funded by the Food, Conservation, and 

Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 3005) 

(2008 Farm Bill). Under the recent 

passage of the Agriculture Act of 2014 

(Public Law 113–79) (2014 Farm Bill), 

FMPP has been reauthorized, funded, 

expanded, and renamed as the 

‘‘Farmers’ Market and Local Food 

Promotion Program.’’ As a result, AMS 

will manage two grant programs. The 

grant programs will be entitled 

‘‘Farmers Market Promotion Program 

(FMPP),’’ and ‘‘Local Food Promotion 

Program (LFPP).’’ 

The 2014 Farm Bill makes seven (7) 

additional changes under the ‘‘Farmers’ 

Market and Local Food Promotion 

Program’’: 

1. There is a new emphasis on the 

development and expansion of local and 

regional food business enterprises (not 

including farmer-to-consumer direct 

marketing entities). Under the 2008 

Farm Bill, authority was only provided 

to support farmer-to-consumer direct 

marketing activities. The 2014 Farm Bill 

establishes a more holistic approach for 

strengthening the local and regional 

food distribution system and essentially 

establishes two separate functions under 

this grant program: Fund direct 

marketing projects through FMPP 

grants, and fund local and regional food 

business enterprise projects through 

LFPP grants. 

2. The purposes of the program are 

expanded by including such activities 

as ‘‘. . . providing outreach, training, 

and technical assistance to, or assisting 

in the development, improvement and 

expansion of’’ . . . ‘‘local and regional 

food business enterprises . . . that 

process, distribute, aggregate, or store 

locally or regionally produced food 

products.’’ 

3. The eligibility of applicants is 

expanded. New language expands an 

agricultural cooperative to ‘‘an 

agricultural cooperative or other 

agriculture business entity (including a 

community supported agriculture 

network or association).’’ 

4. A 25 percent ‘‘cash or in kind’’ 

match has been introduced for projects 

that will be submitted under the local 

and regional food business enterprise 

component of the Program. No match is 

required under FMPP grant program. 

5. New priorities for annual awards 

have been established. Priority is to be 

given to ‘‘projects that benefit 

underserved communities, including 

communities that (1) are located in areas 

of concentrated poverty with limited 

access to fresh locally or regionally 

grown foods; and (2) have not received 

benefits from the Program in the recent 

past.’’ 


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