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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52127-52128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20439]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[AMS-CN-13-0046]

Tobacco Inspection and Grading Services: Notice of Request for an 
Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension to the currently approved 
information collection in support of the Fair and Equitable Tobacco 
Reform Act of 2004 (U.S.C. Chapter 518), the Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administrative, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 
2002 (Appropriations Act), and the Tobacco Inspection Act and 
Regulations Governing the Tobacco Standards.

DATES: Comments received by October 21, 2013 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited 
to submit written comments concerning this proposal to Shethir M. Riva, 
Chief, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS, 
USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
22406. Comments should be submitted in triplicate. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically through www.regulations.gov. All comments 
should reference AMS-CN-13-0046. All comments received will be made 
available for public inspection at www.regulations.gov or at the Cotton 
and Tobacco Programs, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, 
Virginia, 22406, during regular business hours.

[[Page 52128]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir M. Riva, Chief, Research and 
Promotion Staff, 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:
    Title: Reporting and Recording Requirements for 7 CFR Part 29.
    OMB Number: 0581-0056.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511-511s) requires 
that all tobacco sold at designated auction markets in the U.S. be 
inspected and graded. The Appropriations Act (7 U.S.C. 511s note) 
requires that all tobacco eligible for price support in the U.S. be 
inspected and graded. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 
(7 U.S.C. 518-519a) eliminated price supports and marketing quotas for 
all tobacco beginning with the 2005 crop year. Mandatory inspection and 
grading of domestic and imported tobacco was eliminated as well as the 
mandatory pesticide testing of imported tobacco and the tobacco market 
news program. The Tobacco Inspection Act also provides for interested 
parties to request inspection, pesticide testing, and grading services 
on a permissive basis. The information collection requirements 
authorized for the programs under the Tobacco Inspection Act and the 
Appropriations Act include: application for inspection of tobacco, 
application and other information used in the approval of new auction 
markets or the extension of services to designated tobacco markets, and 
the information required to be provided in connection with auction and 
nonauction sales.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.60 hours per response.
    Respondents: Primarily tobacco companies, tobacco manufacturers, 
import inspectors, and small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 48
    Estimated Number of Responses: 2,415
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,851
    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 also may be sent to Shethir M. 
Riva, Chief, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, 
AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
22406. All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address or through 
www.regulations.gov.
    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: August 16, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20439 Filed 8-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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