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

67325

Vol. 62, No. 247

Wednesday, December 24, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

December 19, 1997.

The Department of Agriculture has

submitted the following information

collection requirement(s) to OMB for

review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13. Comments

regarding: (a) Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

agency, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate

of burden including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility and

clarity of the information to be

collected; (d) 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 should be addressed to: Desk

Officer for Agriculture, Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB), Washington, DC 20503 and to

Department Clearance Office, USDA,

OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC

20250–7602. Comments regarding these

information collections are best assured

of having their full effect if received

within 30 days of this notification.

Copies of the submission(s) may be

obtained by calling (202) 720–6746.

An agency may not conduct or

sponsor a collection of information

unless the collection of information

displays a currently valid OMB control

number and the agency informs

potential persons who are to respond to

the collection of information that such

persons are not required to respond to

the collection of information unless it

displays a currently valid OMB control

number.

Risk Management Agency

Title: Dairy Options Pilot Program.

OMB Control Number: 0563–New.

Summary of Collection: Information

collection for the Dairy Options Pilot

Program will take place through the use

of two forms, one on-going process of

electronic data transmission, and

voluntary surveys.

Need and Use of The Information:

The information is to be used by RMA

in verifying compliance of participating

producers and brokers, and evaluating

the effectiveness of options as a risk

management tool for dairy farmers.

Description of Respondents: Farms;

Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit; Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 35,329.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: Semiannually.

Total Burden Hours: 16,951.

Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

Title: Adapting the Food Guide

Pyramid for Young Children.

OMB Control Number: 0584–New.

Summary of Collection: Information

will be collected through focus groups

and prototype testing sessions

concerning nutrition education.

Need and Use of the Information:

Information will help USDA develop

food guidance materials for parents of

young children.

Description of Respondents:

Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 180.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

One-time.

Total Burden Hours: 360.

Office of Civil Rights

Title: Program Discrimination

Complaints.

OMB Control Number: 0508–New.

Summary of Collection: Information is

collected from respondents who wish to

file discrimination complaints.

Need and Use of The Information:

The information will be used by the

staff of the USDA Office of Civil Rights

to investigate, attempt resolution and

settle the case.

Description of Respondents:

Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit; Not-for-profit

institutions; Farms; State, Local, or

Tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 600.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 600.

Emergency Processing of This

Submission Has Been Requested by

January 15, 1998.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Assignments of Payments and

Joint Payment Authorizations.

OMB Control Number: 0560–New.

Summary of Collection: Information is

collected from respondents who want to

assign agricultural payments to a third

party.

Need and Use of The Information:

The information allows USDA to pay

the proper party when payments

become due.

Description of Respondents: Farms.

Number of Respondents: 70,900.

Frequency of Respondent’s:

Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 11,778.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Tobacco Marketing Quota

Referenda—7 CFR 717.

OMB Control Number: 0560–New.

Summary of Collection: A referendum

is conducted of eligible farmers to

determine whether they favor or oppose

marketing quotas for the next three

years.

Need and Use of The Information:

The referendum is necessary to

determine whether the producers do or

do not favor national marketing quotas

for tobacco.

Description of Respondents:

Individuals or households; Farms.

Number of Respondents: 155,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

Every 3 years.

Total Burden Hours: 4,300.

Farm Service Agency

Title: Assignments of Payments and

Joint Payment Authorizations.

OMB Control Number: 0560–New.

Summary of Collection: Information is

collected from respondents who want to

assign agricultural payments to a third

party.

Need and Use of The Information:

The information allows USDA to pay

the proper party when payments

become due.

Description of Respondents: Farms.

Number of Respondents: 70,900.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting:

On occasion.
67326 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 24, 1997 / Notices

1Source—USDA, NASS, ASB.

Total Burden Hours: 11,778.

Agricultural Marketing Service

Title: The National Organic Program.

OMB Control Number: 0581–New.

Summary of Collection: Information is

required to accredit agents who will

serve as inspectors of organically

produced agricultural products and will

document adherence to the established

standards.

Need and Use of The Information:

Information will be used by the

Agricultural Marketing Service to certify

inspection agents on an annual basis.

Description of Respondents: Farms;

Individuals or households; Business or

other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Number of Respondents: 187,651.

Frequency of Responses:

Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 377,171.

Donald Hulcher,

Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–33589 Filed 12–23–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[FV–96–327]

United States Standards for Grades of

Canned Apples

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing

Service (AMS) is soliciting comments

on its proposal to change the United

States Standard for Grades of Canned

Applies. Specifically, AMS is proposing

to lower the recommended drained

weight for canned apples packed in No.

10 cans. This change would allow more

equitable utilization of processed apples

across domestic growing regions and

will help the apple industry to meet it

market needs.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before February 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be

submitted to Randle A. Macon,

Processed Products Branch, Fruit and

Vegetable Programs, Agricultural

Marketing Service, U.S. Department of

Agricultural, Room 0709, South

Building; STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456;

Washington, D.C. 20090–6456; faxed to

(202) 690–1087; or e-mailed to

RandlelAlMacon@usda. gov.

Comments should reference the date

and page number of this issue of the

Federal Register. All comments

received will be made available for

public inspection at the address listed

above during regular business hours.

The current United States Standards

for Grades of Canned Apples, along with

the proposed changes, are available

either through the afore-mentioned

address or by accessing AMS’s Home

Page on the Internet at the following

address: www.ams.usda.gov/standards/

frutcan.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Randle A. Macon at (202) 720–

4693.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act

of 1946, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1622 (c))

directs and authorizes the Secretary of

Agriculture ‘‘To develop and improve

standards of quality, condition,

quantity, grade, and packaging and

recommend and demonstrate such

standards in order to encourage

uniformity and consistency in

commercial practices * * *’’. AMS is

committed to carrying out this authority

in a manner that facilitates the

marketing of agricultural commodities

and make copies of official standards

available upon request. The United

States Standards for Grades of Canned

Apples no longer appear in the Code of

Federal Regulations but are maintained

by the Department of Agriculture

(USDA).

AMS is proposing to change the

United States Standards for Grades of

Canned Apples using the procedures it

published in the August 13, 1997,

Federal Register and that appear in Part

36 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal

Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).

AMS received petitions from

Independent Food Processors Company

of Sunnyside, Washington; and Snokist

Growers of Yakima, Washington,

requesting the revision of the United

States Standards for Grades of Canned

Apples. The two petitioners represent a

significant part of the Pacific Northwest

apple industry. The Pacific Northwest

apple industry provides almost half of

the apples produced domestically.1

The petitions request that the

recommend drained weight of 96

ounces for apples packed in No. 10 size

cans, in the U.S. Standards for Grades

of Canned Apples, is difficult to obtain

and puts Pacific Northwest processors at

an economic disadvantage in bidding

for government and non-government

contracts. The reasons given for this

disparity are that the varietal types of

apples and the growing conditions in

the Northwest region are different from

other apple producing regions around

the country. The petitioners state that to

meet the standard when packing certain

varieties of apples, the cans are overfilled.

This condition may cause damage to

the sliced apples which may cause the

slices to be graded as less than ‘‘Grade

A.’’ To meet USDA requirements for

drained weight, some processors may be

required to put more product into the

can, causing economic hardship,

damage to the product, and sometimes

loss of the integrity of the can seal. If the

seal’s integrity is lost during processing,

the product’s wholesomeness is

jeopardized.

The remedies recommended by the

petitioners, though similar in purpose,

are different. Snokist Growers of

Yakima, Washington, recommends a

reduction in the recommended drained

weight for apples packed in No. 10 size

cans, from 96 ounces to 92 ounces.

Independent Food Processors Company

of Sunnyside, Washington, recommends

the elimination of the recommended

drained weight for apples packed in No.

10 size cans, from the U.S. Standards for

Grades of Canned Apples. If that is not

possible the petitioner recommends the

incorporation of a ‘‘fill weight program’’

in the U.S. Standards for Grades of

Canned Apples to ensure that the

‘‘recommended fill of container’’

requirement is met with a reduction in

the recommended drained weight for

apples packed in No. 10 size cans, from

96 ounces to 85 ounces.

USDA has reviewed the petitions and

data submitted, and has gathered

additional information from relevant

government agencies and industry

sources including growers, processors,

and buyers. Based on this information,

USDA has found that there may be a

disparity between the drained weights

for canned apples from Pacific

Northwest processors and those from

other sections of the country. Though a

variation in drained weights may exist,

our review has shown that the

difference is not great enough to warrant

the changes to the Standards

recommended by Independent Food

Processors Company of Sunnyside,

Washington.

Based on these findings, the USDA

has agreed with the recommendation

from Snokist Growers of Yakima,

Washington, and is proposing to lower

the recommended drained weight for

apples packed No. 10 size cans, from 96

ounces to 92 ounces in the U.S.

Standards for Grades of Canned Apples.

This change would allow a more

equitable marketing environment for the

domestic canned apple industry.