### 32228 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 29, 2013 / Notices

with approximately 6,725 recordkeepers.

Regulations Section 46.20—Records Reflecting Lot Numbers: Average of 8.25 hours with approximately 683 recordkeepers.

Regulations Section 46.46(c)(2)— Waiver of Rights to Trust Protection: Average of .25 hours per notice with approximately 100 principals.

Regulations Sections 46.2(aa)(11) and 46.46(e)(1)—Copy of Written Agreement Reflecting Times for Payment: Average of 20 hours with approximately 2,343 recordkeepers.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 3 hours per response annually.

Respondents: Commission merchants, dealers, and brokers engaged in the business of buying, selling, or negotiating the purchase or sale of commercial quantities of fresh and/or frozen fruits and vegetables in interstate or foreign commerce are required to be licensed under the PACA (7 U.S.C. 499c (a)).

Estimated Number of Respondents:

14,540.

Estimated Total Annual Responses:

29,095.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 87,455.

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.

All responses to this document will
be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All
comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: May 21, 2013.

Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.

[FR Doc. 2013–12653 Filed 5–28–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE** 

**Agricultural Marketing Service**

**[AMS–CN–12–0029]**

**Cotton Research and Promotion Program: Determination of Whether To**  **Conduct a Referendum Regarding**
**1990 Amendments to the Cotton**
**Research and Promotion Act**

**AGENCY :**  Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces the Department’s determination, based on a review by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), that it is not necessary to conduct a referendum among producers and importers on
continuation of the 1990 amendments to
the Cotton Research and Promotion Act (Act). The 1990 amendments require the Secretary of Agriculture, once every 5 years, to conduct a review to determine
whether to hold a continuance referendum. The two major changes to
the Cotton Research and Promotion Program made by the 1990 amendments
were the elimination of assessment refunds to producers and a new assessment levied on imported cotton and the cotton content of imported products. Although USDA is of the view that a referendum is not needed, it will initiate a sign-up period as required by the Act, to allow cotton producers and importers the opportunity to request a
continuance referendum.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Shethir M. Riva, Chief, Research and Promotion Division, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406, telephone (540) 361–2726, facsimile (540) 361–1199, or email at Shethir.Riva@ams.usda.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In July 1991, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) implemented the 1990
amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act (7 U.S.C. 2101–2118) (Act). These amendments provided for: (1) Importer representation on the Cotton Board by an appropriate number of persons—to be determined by the Secretary—who import cotton or cotton products into the United States (U.S.) and are selected by the Secretary from nominations submitted by importer organizations certified by the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) assessments levied on imported cotton and cotton products at
a rate determined in the same manner as for U.S. cotton; (3) increasing the amount the Secretary can be reimbursed for conducting a referendum from $200,000 to $300,000; (4) reimbursing government agencies who assist in administering the collection of assessments on imported cotton and cotton products; and (5) terminating the right of producers to demand an
assessment refund.

Results of the initial July 1991 referendum showed that of the 46,220 valid ballots received with 27,879 or 60 percent of the persons voted in favor of
the amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Order (7 CFR part 1205) (Order) and 18,341 or 40 percent opposed the amendments. AMS developed implementing regulations for the import assessment effective July 31, 1992 (57 FR 29181); the elimination of the producer refund effective July 31, 1992 (57 FR 29181); and provided for importer representation on the Cotton Board effective December 21, 1991 (56 FR 65979).

USDA conducted 5-year reviews of
the Cotton Research and Promotion Program in 1996, 2001 and 2006. For each review, the Department prepared reports that described the impact of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program on the cotton industry and the views of those receiving its benefits. Following each review, USDA announced its
decision not to conduct a referendum regarding the 1991 amendments to the Order (61 FR 52772, 67 FR 1714, and 72 FR 9918, respectively) and subsequently held sign-up periods, affording all eligible persons to request a
continuance referendum on the 1990
Act amendments. The results of each sign-up period did not meet the criteria as established by the Act for a continuance referendum and, therefore,
referenda were not conducted.

In 2011–2012, the Department again prepared a 5-year report that described the impact of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program on the cotton industry. The review report is available upon written request to the Chief of the
Cotton Research and Promotion Staff at the address provided above. Comments
were solicited from all interested parties, including persons who pay the
assessments as well as from organizations representing cotton producers and importers (76 FR 31573). Five comments, including comments from four certified producer organizations that nominate producers to the Cotton Board, claimed strong support for the continuance of the program, noting that the administration of the Act has been proper, carries out the intent and purpose in a timely and superior manner, and requires no changes or adjustment.


### 32229 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 29, 2013 / Notices

USDA reviewed the Cotton Research and Promotion Program major program activities and accomplishments, including third-party evaluations of advertising and marketing activities and other functional areas; the results of producer and importer awareness and satisfaction surveys; and data from the Foreign Agricultural Service. USDA also
reviewed the results of the Cotton Board’s 2011 independent program evaluation, which assessed the
effectiveness of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program; the strength of cotton’s competitive position; the ability to maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets; increases in the number of uses for cotton; and estimates of a
return on investment for stakeholders and qualitative benefits and returns
associated with the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. The review report
concluded that the 1990 amendments to the Act were successfully implemented and are operating as intended. The report also noted that there is a general consensus within the cotton industry
that the Cotton Research and Promotion Program and the 1990 amendments to the Act are operating as intended. Written comments, economic data, and results from independent evaluations support this conclusion.

Although USDA found no compelling
reason to conduct a referendum regarding the 1990 Act amendments to
the Cotton Research and Promotion Order, some program participants support a referendum. Therefore, USDA will initiate a sign-up period in accordance with the Act. During this sign-up period, eligible producers and importers may sign-up to request such a referendum at the county office of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), or by mailing such a request to FSA. The Secretary will conduct a referendum if requested by 10 percent or more of the number of cotton producers and importers voting in the most recent referendum (July 1991), with not more than 20 percent of such request from producers in one state or importers of

cotton.

Current procedures for the conduct of a sign-up period appear at 7 CFR
sections 1205.10–1205.30. These procedures will be updated as appropriate prior to the beginning of the sign-up period.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101–2118.

Dated: May 21, 2013.

Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.

[FR Doc. 2013–12655 Filed 5–28–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE** 

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection**
**Service**

**[Docket No. APHIS–2013–0011]**

**Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an** **Information Collection; Virus-Serum Toxin Act and Regulations** 

**AGENCY :**  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection
associated with the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act and regulations.

**DATES :**  We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 29,

2013.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ #!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0011-

0001.

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2013–0011, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.

Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http:// www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0011 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Forinformation regarding the Virus-SerumToxin Act and regulations, contact Dr. Donna Malloy, Section Leader, Policy, Evaluation and Licensing, CVB, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 148, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–3426. For copies
of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS’ Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–

2908.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Title: Virus-Serum-Toxin Act and Regulations.

OMB Number: 0579–0013. Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an information
collection.

Abstract: Under the Virus-SerumToxin Act (21 U.S.C. 151–159), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is authorized to promulgate regulations designed to prevent the importation, preparation, sale, or shipment of harmful veterinary biological products. These regulations are contained in 9 CFR parts 102 to 124.

Veterinary biological products include viruses, serums, toxins, and analogous products of natural or synthetic origin, such as vaccines, antitoxins, or the immunizing components of microorganisms intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases in domestic
animals.

APHIS issues licenses to qualified establishments that produce veterinary biological products and issues permits to importers of such products. APHIS also enforces requirements concerning production, packaging, labeling, and shipping of these products and sets standards for the testing of these products.

To help ensure that veterinary biological products used in the United States are pure, safe, potent, and effective, APHIS requires certain information collection activities, including, among other things, establishment license applications, product license applications, product import permit applications, product and test report forms, field study summaries, and recordkeeping. These information activities have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control number 0579–

0013.

In addition, in accordance with the regulations in 9 CFR 105.3 and 115.2, APHIS may notify a veterinary biologics licensee or permittee to stop the preparation, importation, and/or
distribution and sale of a serial or a subserial of a veterinary biological product if, at any time, it appears that such product may be worthless, contaminated, dangerous, or harmful in
the treatment of animals. This notification triggers two information collection activities: (1) After being contacted by APHIS, veterinary biologics licensees or permittees must immediately, but no later than 2 days, send stop distribution and sale notifications to any wholesalers, jobbers, dealers, foreign consignees, or other persons known to have such veterinary biological product in their