[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11810-11811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6266]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV97-917-1NC]


Notice of Request for 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 an extension to a currently 
approved information collection for Peaches Grown in California, 
Marketing Order No. 917.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 12, 1997, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Kenneth G. Johnson, 
Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Room 2525-
S, Fruit and Vegetable Division,

[[Page 11811]]

Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Post 
Office Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, telephone: (202) 720-5127, 
Fax (202) 720-5698; or Terry Vawter, Marketing Specialist, California 
Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit 
and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, 
Fresno, California, 93721; telephone: (209) 487-5901.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Peaches Grown in California, Marketing Order 917.
    OMB Number: 0581-0080.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for 
producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in a 
specified production area, to work together to solve marketing problems 
that cannot be solved individually. Order regulations help ensure 
adequate supplies of high quality product and adequate returns to 
producers. Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), industries enter into marketing 
order programs. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to oversee 
the order operations and issue regulations recommended by a committee 
of representatives from each commodity industry.
    The California peach marketing order program, which has been 
operating since 1939, authorizes the issuance of grade, size, and 
maturity regulations, inspection requirements, and marketing and 
production research including paid advertising. Regulatory provisions 
apply to peaches shipped within and out of the area of production to 
any market, except those specifically exempted by the marketing order.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the AMAA, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
California peach marketing order program.
    The order, and rules and regulations issued thereunder, authorize 
the Peach Commodity Committee (Committee), the agency responsible for 
local administration of the order, to require handlers to submit 
certain information. Much of this information is compiled in aggregate 
and provided to the industry to assist in marketing decisions.
    The Committee has developed forms as a convenience to persons who 
are required to file information with the Committee needed to carry out 
the purposes of the Act and the order. These forms require a minimum of 
information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the 
order, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the Act as 
expressed in the order.
    Peach growers who are nominated by their peers to serve as 
representatives on the Committee must file nomination forms with the 
Secretary.
    Formal rulemaking amendments to the order must be approved in 
referenda conducted by the Secretary. Also, the Secretary may conduct a 
continuance referendum to determine industry support for continuation 
of the order. Handlers are asked to sign an agreement to indicate their 
willingness to abide by the provisions of the order whenever the order 
is amended. These forms are included in this request.
    These forms require the minimum information necessary to 
effectively carry out the requirements of the order, and their use is 
necessary to fulfill the intent of the AMAA as expressed in the order, 
and the rules and regulations issued under the order.
    The information collected is used only by authorized 
representatives of the USDA, including AMS, Fruit and Vegetable 
Division regional and headquarters staff, and authorized employees of 
the Committee. Authorized Committee employees and the industry are the 
primary users of the information and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.819 hours per response.
    Respondents: California peach producers and for-profit businesses 
handling fresh peaches produced in California.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 721.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.874.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1140 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the functioning of the California peach 
marketing order program and USDA's oversight of that program; (2) the 
accuracy of the collection burden estimate and the validity of 
methodology and assumptions used in estimating the burden on 
respondents; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information requested; and (4) ways to minimize the burden, 
including use of automated or electronic technologies.
    Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0080 and Marketing Order No. 
917, and be mailed to Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, 
USDA, Post Office Box 96456, room 2525-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456. 
Comments should reference the docket number and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
USDA business hours at 14th & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 
room 2525-S.
    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: March 7, 1997.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 97-6266 Filed 3-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P