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

67331 

Vol. 78, No. 218 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Docket No. AMS–FV–13–0063; FV13–900– 

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. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. 3501), this notice announces the 

Agricultural Marketing Service’s 

(‘‘AMS’’) intention to request an 

extension for the forms currently used 

by marketers to apply for exemption 

from market promotion assessments 

under 22 marketing order programs. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by January 13, 2014. 

Additional Information: Contact 

Andrew Hatch, Supervisory Marketing 

Specialist, Marketing Order and 

Agreement Division, Fruit and 

Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, 

Room 1406–S, Washington, DC 20250– 

0237; Tel: (202) 720–2491, Email: 

andrew.hatch@ams.usda.gov. 

Small businesses may request 

information on this notice by contacting 

Jeffrey Smutny, Marketing Order and 

Agreement Division, Fruit and 

Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, 

Room 1406–S, Washington, DC 20250– 

0237; Tel: (202) 690–3919; or Email: 

jeffrey.smutny@ams.usda.gov. 

Comments: 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, Fruit and 

Vegetable 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 26 

Federal Marketing Orders. 

OMB Number: 0581–0216. 

Expiration Date of Approval: March 

31, 2014. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently-approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: Marketing Order (‘‘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), 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 Federal 

Agriculture Improvement and Reform 

Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7201) was 

amended by the Farm Security and 

Rural Investment Act (7 U.S.C. 7901), 

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 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; 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 Fruit and 

Vegetable Programs’ 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 30 

minutes per response. 

Respondents: Respondents are eligible 

certified organic handlers. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

55. 

Estimated Number of Total Annual 

Responses: 55. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 1 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 28 hours. 

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
67332 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2013 / Notices 

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. 

Dated: November 5, 2013. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–26946 Filed 11–8–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. No. AMS FV–13–0064; FV13–983–2] 

Notice of Request for Extension and 

Revision of a Currently Approved 

Information Collection for Pistachios 

Grown in California, Arizona, and New 

Mexico (Marketing Order No. 983) 

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 an 

extension for and revision to the forms 

currently used to collect information 

under Federal Marketing Order No. 983, 

for pistachios grown in California, 

Arizona, and New Mexico. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by January 13, 2014. 

Additional Information: Contact 

Andrew Hatch, Supervisory Marketing 

Specialist, Marketing Order and 

Agreement Division, Fruit and 

Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, 

Washington, DC 20250–0237; (202) 720– 

2491, Fax: (202) 720–8938, or Email: 

andrew.hatch@ams.usda.gov. 

Small businesses may request 

information on this notice by contacting 

Jeffrey Smutny, Marketing Order and 

Agreement Division, Fruit and 

Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, 

Washington, DC 20250–0237; telephone 

(202) 720–2491, Fax: (202) 720–8938, or 

Email: jeffrey.smutny@ams.usda.gov. 

Comments: Comments are welcome 

and should reference OMB No. 0581– 

0215 and the Marketing Order for 

Pistachios Grown in California, Arizona 

and New Mexico, Marketing Order No. 

983, and the date and page number of 

this issue of the Federal Register. 

Comments may be submitted by mail to 

the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable 

Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, 

Room 1406–S, Washington, DC 20250– 

0237; Fax: (202) 720–8938; or submitted 

online at http://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. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Pistachios Grown in California, 

Arizona and New Mexico, Marketing 

Order No. 983. 

OMB Number: 0581–0215. 

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 

2014. 

Type of Request: Extension and 

revision of a currently approved 

information collection. 

Abstract: Under the Agricultural 

Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 

(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601– 

674), fresh fruits, vegetables and 

specialty crop industries can enter into 

marketing order programs which 

provide an opportunity for producers, in 

a specified production area, to work 

together to solve marketing problems. 

The Secretary of Agriculture is 

authorized to oversee the order 

operations and issue regulations 

recommended by a committee of 

representatives from each commodity 

industry. 

The pistachio marketing order 

regulates the handling of pistachios 

grown in California, Arizona and New 

Mexico, hereinafter referred to as the 

order, (7 CFR part 983). The order 

authorizes grade and size requirements, 

as well as a requirement for aflatoxin 

testing on domestic shipments only. 

The order authorizes the 

Administrative Committee for 

Pistachios (Committee) to locally 

administer the order. The order also 

requires handlers submit certain 

information in order to effectively 

implement the requirements of the 

order, fulfill the intent of the AMAA, 

and assist the industry in carrying out 

marketing decisions. Only authorized 

employees of the Committee, and 

authorized representatives of the USDA, 

including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable 

Program’s regional and headquarter’s 

staff have access to information 

provided on the forms. 

Requesting public comments on the 

forms described below is part of the 

process to obtain approval through the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB). Forms needing OMB approval 

are contained in OMB No. 0581–0215 

and include forms for committee 

nominations and ballots for producers 

(FV–245 and FV–246) and handlers 

(FV–245A and FV–244), as well as 

background statements for those 

nominated who agree to serve on the 

Committee (FV–243). In addition, OMB 

No. 0581–0215 forms include a 

marketing agreement (FV–242), and 

referendums on order amendments (FV– 

240A) and continuation of the order 

(FV–240). There are also forms to report 

on receipts/assessments (ACP–1), 

minimal testing for aflatoxins (ACP–5), 

inter-handler transfer (ACP–6), 

inventory shipments (ACP–7), producer 

delivery (ACP–8), exemptions for 

handlers (ACP–4), and failed lot 

notifications (ACP–2) and dispositions 

(ACP–3). Recently added forms are the 

Import Pistachios—Rework and Failed 

Lot Disposition Report (FV–251) and 

Imported Pistachios—Failed Lot 

Notification Report (FV–249). 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 16 minutes per 

response. 

Respondents: Pistachio producers, 

handlers and testing laboratories. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

821. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 2.06. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 437.57 hours. 

Comments: Comments are invited on: 

(1) Whether the proposed collection of 

the 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. 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES