Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2013 / Notices 38913 

the Internet at http:// 

www.Regulations.Gov or to the Market 

News Division, Fruit & Vegetable 

Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Room 1529 

South, Stop 0238, Washington, DC 

20250–0238. Comments should make 

reference to the dates and page number 

of this issue of the Federal Register and 

will be made available for public 

inspection in the above office during 

regular business hours or at http:// 

www.Regulations.Gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Terry C. Long, Director; Fruit and 

Vegetable Market News Division, Fruit 

and Vegetable Program, (202) 720–2175, 

Fax: (202) 720–0011. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Fruit and Vegetable Market 

News. 

OMB Number: 0581–0006. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 

September 30, 2013. 

Type of Request: Revision of a 

currently approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: Collection and 

dissemination of information for fruit, 

vegetable and ornamental production 

and to facilitate trading by providing a 

price base used by producers, 

wholesalers, and retailers to market 

product. 

The Agricultural Marketing Act of 

1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), section 

203(g) directs and authorizes the 

collection and dissemination of 

marketing information including 

adequate outlook information, on a 

market area basis, for the purpose of 

anticipating and meeting consumer 

requirements, aiding in the maintenance 

of farm income and to bring about a 

balance between production and 

utilization. 

The fruit and vegetable industry 

provides information on a voluntary 

basis that is gathered through 

confidential telephone and face-to-face 

interviews by market reporters. 

Reporters request supply, demand, and 

price information of over 330 fresh fruit, 

vegetable, nut, ornamental, and other 

specialty crops. The information is 

collected, compiled, and disseminated 

by Market News in its critical role as an 

impartial third party. It is collected and 

reported in a manner which protects the 

confidentiality of the respondent and 

their operations. 

The fruit and vegetable market news 

reports are used by academia and 

various government agencies for 

regulatory and other purposes, but are 

primarily used by the fruit, vegetable 

and ornamental trade, which includes 

packers, processors, brokers, retailers, 

producers, and associated industries. 

Members of the fruit and vegetable 

industry regularly make it clear that 

they need and expect the Department of 

Agriculture to issue price and supply 

market reports for commodities of 

regional, national and international 

significance in order to assist in making 

immediate production and marketing 

decisions and as a guide to the amount 

of product in the supply channel. In 

addition, the Agricultural Marketing 

Service buys hundreds of millions of 

dollars of fruit and vegetable products 

each year for domestic feeding 

programs, and Market News data is a 

critical component of the decision 

making process. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average .098 hours per 

response. 

Respondents: Fruit, vegetable and 

ornamental industry, or other for-profit 

businesses, individuals or households, 

farms. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

3,168. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 197. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 61,161 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 

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 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

also become a matter of public record. 

Dated: June 24, 2013. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–15562 Filed 6–27–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

[Doc. No. AMS–NOP–13–0051; NOP–13–02] 

National Organic Program: Request for 

an Extension of a Currently Approved 

Information Collection 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces the Agricultural 

Marketing Service’s (AMS) intention to 

request approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget, for an 

extension of the currently approved 

information collection National Organic 

Program (NOP) Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Requirements. 

DATES: Comments received by August 

27, 2013 will be considered. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments 

concerning this notice. Comments must 

be sent to Toni Strother, Agricultural 

Marketing Specialist, National Organic 

Program, AMS/USDA, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646– 

So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 

20250–0268 or by Internet: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Written comments 

responding to this notice should be 

identified with the document number 

AMS–NOP–13–0051; NOP–13–02. It is 

USDA’s intention to have all comments 

concerning this notice, including names 

and addresses when provided, 

regardless of submission procedure 

used, available for viewing on the 

Regulations.gov (http:// 

www.regulations.gov) Internet site. 

Comments submitted in response to this 

notice will also be available for viewing 

in person at USDA–AMS, National 

Organic Program, Room 2624–South 

Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 

Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon 

and from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 

through Friday (except official Federal 

holidays). Persons wanting to visit the 

USDA South Building to view 

comments received in response to this 

notice are requested to make an 

appointment in advance by calling (202) 

720–3252. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Melissa Bailey, Ph.D., Director, 

Standards Division, National Organic 

Program, USDA–AMS, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646– 

So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 

20250, Telephone: (202) 720–3252, Fax: 

(202) 205–7808. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
38914 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2013 / Notices 

1AMS NOP 2012 List of certified organic 

operations. Available at: http://apps.ams.usda.gov/ 

nop/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: National Organic Program. 

OMB Number: 0581–0191. 

Expiration Date of Approval: 

December 31, 2013. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: The Organic Foods 

Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) as 

amended (7 U.S.C. 6501–6522) 

mandates that the Secretary develop the 

NOP to accredit eligible State program’s 

governing State officials or private 

persons as certifying agents who would 

certify producers or handlers of 

agricultural products that have been 

produced using organic methods as 

provided for in OFPA. The USDA 

organic regulation (7 CFR part 205): (1) 

Established national standards 

governing the marketing of certain 

agricultural products as organically 

produced products; (2) assures 

consumers that organically produced 

products meet a consistent standard; 

and (3) facilitates interstate commerce 

in fresh and processed food that is 

organically produced. 

Reporting and recordkeeping are 

essential to the integrity of the organic 

certification system. They create a paper 

trail that is a critical element in carrying 

out the mandate of OFPA and NOP. 

They serve the AMS mission, program 

objectives, and management needs by 

providing information on the efficiency 

and effectiveness of the program. The 

information affects decisions because it 

is the basis for evaluating compliance 

with OFPA and NOP, for administering 

the program, for management decisions 

and planning, and for establishing the 

cost of the program. It supports 

administrative and regulatory actions in 

response to noncompliance with OFPA 

and NOP. 

In general, the information collected 

is used by USDA, State program 

governing State officials, and certifying 

agents. It is created and submitted by 

State and foreign program officials, peer 

review panel members, accredited 

certifying agents, organic inspectors, 

certified organic producers and 

handlers, those seeking accreditation or 

certification, and parties interested in 

changing the National List of Allowed 

and Prohibited Substances at sections 

205.600 through 205.607. Additionally, 

it causes most of these entities to have 

procedures and space for recordkeeping. 

USDA. USDA is the accrediting 

authority. USDA accredits domestic and 

foreign certifying agents who certify 

domestic and foreign organic producers 

and handlers, using information from 

the agents documenting their business 

operations and program expertise. 

USDA also permits States to establish 

their own organic certification programs 

after the programs are approved by the 

Secretary, using information from the 

States documenting their ability to 

operate such programs and showing that 

such programs meet the requirements of 

OFPA and NOP. 

States. States may operate their own 

organic certification programs. State 

officials obtain the Secretary’s approval 

of their programs by submitting 

information to USDA documenting their 

ability to operate such programs and 

showing that such programs meet the 

requirements of OFPA and NOP. The 

Secretary, or delegated representative, 

will review a State organic program not 

less than once during each 5-year period 

following the date of the initial program 

approval. To date, one State organic 

certification program is approved by 

USDA. 

Certifying agents. Certifying agents are 

State, private, or foreign entities who are 

accredited by USDA to certify domestic 

and foreign producers and handlers as 

organic in accordance with OFPA and 

NOP. Each entity wanting to be an agent 

seeks accreditation from USDA, 

submitting information documenting its 

business operations and program 

expertise. Accredited certifying agents 

determine if a producer or handler 

meets organic requirements, using 

detailed information from the operation 

documenting its specific practices and 

on-site inspection reports from organic 

inspectors. Currently, there are 84 

certifying agents accredited under NOP. 

Administrative costs for reporting, 

disclosure of information, and 

recordkeeping vary among certifying 

agents. Factors affecting costs include 

the number and size of clients, the 

categories of certification provided, and 

the type of systems maintained. 

When an entity applies for 

accreditation as a certifying agent, it 

must provide a copy of its procedures 

for complying with recordkeeping 

requirements (§ 205.504(b)(3)). Once 

accredited, agents have to make their 

records available for inspection and 

copying by authorized representatives of 

the Secretary (§ 205.501(a)(9)). USDA 

charges certifying agents for the time 

required to do these document reviews. 

Audits require less time when the 

documents are well organized and 

centrally located. 

Recordkeeping requirements for 

certifying agents are divided into three 

categories of records with varying 

retention periods: (1) Records created by 

certifying agents regarding applicants 

for certification and certified operations, 

maintain 10-years, consistent with 

OFPA’s requirement for maintaining all 

records concerning activities of 

certifying agents; (2) records obtained 

from applicants for certification and 

certified operations, maintain 5-years, 

the same as OFPA’s requirement for the 

retention of records by certified 

operations; and (3) records created or 

received by certifying agents regarding 

accreditation, maintain 5-years, 

consistent with OFPA’s requirement for 

renewal of agent’s accreditation 

(§ 205.510(b)). 

Organic inspectors. Inspectors, on 

behalf of certifying agents, conduct onsite inspections of certified operations 

and operations applying for 

certification. They report the findings 

from their inspection to the certifying 

agent. Inspectors are the agents 

themselves, employees of the agents, or 

individual contractors. We estimate that 

about half are certifying agents or their 

employees and half are individual 

contractors. Individuals who apply for 

positions as inspectors submit to the 

agents information documenting their 

qualifications to conduct such 

inspections. According to International 

Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA), 

there are 235 inspectors currently 

providing services. 

Producers and handlers. Producers 

and handlers, domestic and foreign, 

apply to certifying agents for organic 

certification, submit detailed 

information documenting their specific 

practices, provide annual updates to 

continue their certification, and report 

changes in their practices. Producers 

include farmers, livestock and poultry 

producers, and wild crop harvesters. 

Handlers include those who transport or 

transform food and include millers, bulk 

distributors, food manufacturers, 

processors, or packers. Some handlers 

are part of a retail operation that 

processes organic products in a location 

other than the premises of the retail 

outlet. Based upon AMS NOP’s 2012 

List of certified organic operations, there 

are approximately 25,000 certified 

operations globally.1 Based on past 

growth of the industry, AMS estimates 

the addition of 350 new certified 

organic operations a year. In addition, 

AMS estimates that there are 6,200 

producers exempt from certification, but 

who must still maintain records 

pursuant to section 205.101(c). 

Administrative costs for reporting and 

recordkeeping vary among certified 

operators. Factors affecting costs 

include the type and size of operation, 

and the type of systems maintained. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2013 / Notices 38915 

AMS believes that operations using 

product labels containing the term 

‘‘organic’’ handle an average of 20 labels 

annually. Based upon AMS NOP’s 2012 

List of certified organic operations, there 

are over 10,800 certified organic 

handlers. For each certified handler, 

AMS estimates that the average annual 

burden to develop product labels with 

organic claims is one hour per product 

label times 20 product labels per 

handler. The annual burden will be 

lower for smaller operations and higher 

for large operations that produce a 

significant volume of organic processed 

product. 

Interested parties. Any interested 

party may petition the National Organic 

Standards Board (NOSB) for the purpose 

of having a substance evaluated for 

recommendation to the Secretary for 

inclusion on or deletion from the 

National List. Based on the number of 

petitions received in the past, AMS 

estimates 25 parties petitioning the 

NOSB to amend the National List in a 

given year. The annual burden for each 

interested party to prepare a complete 

petition is an average of 30 hours. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 1.61 hours per 

response. 

Respondents: Producers, handlers, 

certifying agents, inspectors and State, 

Local or Tribal governments and 

interested parties. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

31,825. 

Estimated Number of Responses: 

838,519. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 26.35. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 1,347,141. 

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 notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

become a matter of public record. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501–6522. 

Dated: June 25, 2013. 

Rex A. Barnes, 

Associate Administrator, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–15626 Filed 6–27–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Notice of Available Funding and Grant 

Application Deadlines 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS), an agency of the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA), 

announces the availability of 

$17,531,000 in grant funds and 

solicitation of applications for the 

Distance Learning and Telemedicine 

(DLT) Grant Program for the Fiscal Year 

(FY) 2013 competition. 

DATES: You may submit completed 

applications for grants on paper or 

electronically per the following 

deadlines: 

• Paper submissions: Paper 

submissions must be postmarked and 

mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no 

later than August 12, 2013 to be eligible 

for FY 2013 grant funding. Late or 

incomplete applications will not be 

eligible for FY 2013 grant funding. 

• Electronic submissions: Electronic 

submissions must be received by August 

12, 2013 to be eligible for FY 2013 grant 

funding. Late or incomplete 

applications will not be eligible for FY 

2013 grant funding. 

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FY 2013 

Application Guides and materials for 

the DLT grant program may be obtained 

at the following sources: 

(1) The DLT Web site: http:// 

www.rurdev.usda.gov/ 

UTP_DLTResources.html and 

(2) You may also request application 

guides and materials from RUS by 

contacting the DLT Program at 202– 

720–0665. 

Completed applications may be 

submitted in the following ways: 

(1) Paper: Paper applications are to be 

submitted to the Rural Utilities Service, 

Telecommunications Program, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Room 2845, 

STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250– 

1550. Applications should be marked 

‘‘Attention: Acting Director, Advanced 

Services Division.’’ 

(2) Electronic: Electronic applications 

may be submitted through Grants.gov. 

Information on how to submit 

applications electronically is available 

on the Grants.gov Web site (http:// 

www.grants.gov). Applicants must 

successfully pre-register with Grants.gov 

to use the electronic applications 

option. Application information may be 

downloaded from Grants.gov without 

preregistration. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Norberto Esteves, Acting Director, 

Advanced Services Division, 

Telecommunications Programs, Rural 

Utilities Service. Email: 

norberto.esteves@wdc.usda.gov. 

Telephone: 202–720–0665, fax: 202– 

720–1051. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency: Rural Utilities 

Service (RUS). 

Funding Opportunity Title: Distance 

Learning and Telemedicine Grants. 

Announcement Type: Notice of 

Solicitation of Applications. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855. 

Dates: You may submit completed 

applications for grants on paper or 

electronically according to the following 

deadlines: 

• Paper submissions must be 

postmarked and mailed, shipped, or 

sent overnight no later than August 12, 

2013 to be eligible for FY 2013 grant 

funding. Late or incomplete 

applications are not eligible for FY 2013 

grant funding. 

Electronic copies must be received by 

August 12, 2013 to be eligible for FY 

2013 grant funding. Late or incomplete 

applications are not eligible for FY 2013 

grant funding. 

Items in Supplementary Information 

I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to 

the DLT program. 

II. Minimum and Maximum Application 

Amounts: Projected Available Funding. 

III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, 

and what kinds of projects are eligible, 

what criteria determine basic eligibility. 

IV. SUTA: The applicant needs to notify RUS 

that it is seeking consideration under the 

7 CFR 1700, Substantially Underserved 

Trust Areas (the SUTA regulation) and 

identifies the discretionary authorities of 

the Secretary of Agriculture described in 

the SUTA regulation that it seeks to have 

applied to its application. 

V. Application and Submission Information: 

Where to get application materials, what 

constitutes a completed application, how 

and where to submit applications, 

deadlines, and items that are eligible. 

VI. Application Review Information: 

Considerations and preferences, scoring 

criteria, review standards, and selection 

information. 

VII. Award Administration Information: 

Award notice information, award 

recipient and reporting requirements. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES