[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 16757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8923]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[No. LS-97-006]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision 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 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension of and revision to 
the currently approved collections of information for 7 CFR Part 54--
Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and 
Standards), which includes Form LS-313, ``Application for Grading or 
Certification Service'' and Form LS-315, ``Application for Commitment 
Grading or Certification Service.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 9, 1997, to be 
assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Terry L. Lutz, Assistant to 
the Chief, Meat Grading and Certification Branch, Livestock and Seed 
Division, AMS, USDA, STOP 0248, Room 2628-S, P.O. BOX 96456, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456, Telephone (202) 720-1114, or FAX (202) 690-
4119.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: 7 CFR Part 54--Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products 
(Grading, Certification, and Standards).
    OMB Number: 0581-0124.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
collections of information.
    Abstract: The application for meat grading and certification 
services requests Department of Agriculture employees to perform such 
services in the requesting establishment. The information contained on 
the applications constitutes an agreement between USDA and the 
requesting establishment.
    The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to provide voluntary Federal meat grading and 
certification services that facilitate the marketing of meat and meat 
products. The Meat Grading and Certification (MGC) Branch provides 
these services pursuant to 7 CFR Part 54--Meats, Prepared Meats, and 
Meat Products (Grading, Certification, and Standards).
    Due to the voluntary nature of grading and certification services, 
7 CFR Part 54 contains provisions for the collection of fees from users 
of MGC Branch services that as nearly as possible are equal to the cost 
of providing the requested services. Applicants (individual or 
businesses with financial interest in the product) may request MGC 
Branch services through either submission of Form LS-313 or Form LS-
315.
    Congress did not specifically authorize this collections of 
information, but as a user-fee branch, completion and submission of 
Form LS-313 or Form LS-315 serves as an agreement by the requester to 
pay for services provided.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0208 hours per response.
    Respondents: Livestock and meat industry or other for-profit 
businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,154.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 21.028.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 504 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. Comments may be sent to Terry L. 
Lutz, Assistant to the Chief, Meat Grading and Certification Branch, 
Livestock and Seed Division, AMS, USDA, STOP 0248, Room 2628-S, P.O. 
BOX 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456.
    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: April 2, 1997.
Barry L. Carpenter,
Director, Livestock and Seed Division.
[FR Doc. 97-8923 Filed 4-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M