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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52130-52131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20438]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[AMS-CN-13-0062]

Tobacco Report: Notice of Request for an 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 approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection for Tobacco Report (OMB No. 
0581-0004).

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-13-0062. 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.

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: Tobacco Report.
    OMB Number: 0581-0004.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The Tobacco Statistics Act of 1929 (7 U.S.C. 501-508) 
provides for the collection and publication of statistics of tobacco by 
USDA with regard to quantity of leaf tobacco in all forms in the United 
States and Puerto Rico, owned by or in the possession of dealers, 
manufacturers, and others with the exception of the original growers of 
the tobacco.
    The statistics shall show the quantity of the tobacco in such 
detail as to types, as USDA shall deem to be practical and necessary 
and shall be summarized as of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 
of each year and are due within 15 days of the summarized dates.
    The information furnished under the provisions of this Act shall be 
used only for statistical purposes for which it is supplied. No 
publication shall be made by USDA whereby the data furnished by any 
particular establishment can be identified, nor shall anyone other than 
the sworn employees of USDA be allowed to examine the individual 
reports.
    The regulations governing the Tobacco Stocks and Standards Act (7 
CFR part 30) issued under the Tobacco Statistics Act (7 U.S.C. 501-508) 
specifically address the reporting requirements. Tobacco in leaf form 
or stems is reported by types of tobacco and whether stemmed or 
unstemmed. Tobacco in sheet form shall be segregated as to whether for 
cigar wrapper, cigar binder, for cigarettes, or for other products.
    Tobacco stocks reporting is mandatory. The basic purpose of the 
information collection is to ascertain the total supply of 
unmanufactured tobacco available to domestic manufacturers and to 
calculate the amount consumed in manufactured tobacco products. This 
data was also used for the calculation of production quotas for 
individual types of tobacco and for price support calculations until 
repealed in 2005.
    The Quarterly Report of Manufacture and Sales of Snuff, Smoking and 
Chewing Tobacco is voluntary. Prior to 1965, information on the 
manufacture and sale of snuff, smoking and chewing tobacco products was 
available from Treasury Department publications on the collection of 
taxes. With repeal of the Federal tax in 1965, the industry requested 
that the collection of basic data be continued to maintain the 
statistical series and all major manufacturers agreed to furnish 
information. Federal taxes were re-imposed in 1985 for snuff and 
chewing tobacco and the Treasury Department began reporting data on 
these products, but not in the detail desired by the industry. Data 
from this report was also used in calculations to determine the 
production quotas of types of tobacco used in these products until 
repealed in 2005.
    The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) directs 
and authorizes USDA to collect, tabulate and disseminate statistics on 
marketing agricultural products including market supplies, storage 
stocks, quantity, quality, and condition of such products in various 
positions in the marketing channel, utilization of sub-products, 
shipments, and unloads.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.87 hours per response.
    Respondents: Primarily tobacco dealers and manufacturers including 
small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 120.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 104.
    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

[[Page 52131]]

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 submitted electronically through 
www.regulations.gov. 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 Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-20438 Filed 8-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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