[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33290]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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, 
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statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 245 / Monday, December 22, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 66845]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. CN-98-001]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision 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 an extension for and revision to a 
currently approved information collection for Cotton Classification and 
Market News Service.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February 
20, 1998 to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Ronald K. Cole, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Cotton 
Programs, Market News Branch, 3275 Appling Road, Memphis, Tennessee, 
38133; (901) 384-3016 telephone and (901) 384-3036 fax.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Cotton Classification and Market News Service.
    OMB Number: 0581-0009.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 06/30/98.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Cotton Classification and Market News Service program 
provides market information on Cotton prices, quality, stocks, demand 
and supply to growers, ginners, merchan-disers, textile mills and the 
public for their use in making sound business decisions. The Cotton 
Statistics and Estimates Act, 7 U.S.C. 471-476, authorizes and directs 
the Secretary of Agriculture to: (a) Collect and publish annually, 
statistics or estimates concerning the grades and staple lengths of 
stocks of cotton, known as the carryover, on hand on the 1st of August 
each year in warehouses and other establishments of every character in 
the continental U.S., and following such publication each year, to 
publish at intervals, in his/her discretion, his/her estimate of the 
grades and staple length of cotton of the then current crop (7 U.S.C. 
471); (b) Collect, authenticate, publish and distribute by telegraph, 
radio, mail, or otherwise, timely information of the market supply, 
demand, location, and market prices of cotton (7 U.S.C. 473b). The 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627, authorizes and 
directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and disseminate 
marketing information, including adequate outlook information on a 
market-area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer 
requirements, aiding in the mainte-nance of farm income, and bringing 
about a balance between production and utilization of agricultural 
products.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Act and to provide the cotton 
industry the type of information they need to make sound business 
decisions. The information collected is the minimum required. 
Information is requested from growers, cooperatives, merchants, 
manufacturers, and other government agencies. This includes information 
on cotton, cottonseed and cotton linters.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the USDA, AMS. The Cotton Industry is the primary user of the compiled 
information and AMS and other government agencies are secondary users.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0902 hours per response (218 hours 
divided by 2,217 responses).
    Respondents: Cotton Merchandisers, Textile Mills, Ginners.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 495.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.883 (2,417 
responses divided by 495 respondents).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 218 hours.
    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 Ronald K. Cole, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Cotton 
Programs, Market News Branch, 3275 Appling Road, Memphis, Tennessee, 
38133. 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: December 16, 1997.
Mary E. Atienza,
Deputy Administrator, Cotton Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-33290 Filed 12-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P