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, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

16756

Vol. 62, No. 67

Tuesday, April 8, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. FV97–932–1 NC]

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 for and revision of a

currently-approved information

collection for olives grown in California,

Marketing Order 932 (7 CFR 932).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by June 9, 1997 to be assured

of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact Terry Vawter, Marketing

Specialist, California Marketing Field

Office, Fruit and Vegetable Division,

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, 2202

Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, CA

93721, Tel: (209) 487–5901, Fax: (209)

487–5906.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Olives Grown in California,

Marketing Order No. 932.

OMB Number: 0581–0142.

Expiration Date of Approval:

September 30, 1997.

Type of Request: Intent to extend and

revise 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 good

quality product and adequate returns to

producers. Under the Agricultural

Marketing Agreement Act of 1937

(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–

674), marketing order programs are

established if favored by producers in

referenda. The handling of the

commodity is regulated. The Secretary

of Agriculture is authorized to oversee

order operations and issue regulations

recommended by a committee of

representatives from each commodity

industry.

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 olive

marketing order program.

The California olive marketing order,

which has been operating since 1965,

authorizes the issuance of grade and

size standards, and inspection

requirements. The order also has

authority for research and development

projects, including paid advertising.

Pursuant to section 608(e)(1) of the

AMAA, import grade and condition

requirements are implemented on olives

imported into the United States.

The order and its rules and

regulations authorize the California

Olive Committee (committee), the

agency responsible for local

administration of the order, to require

handlers and producers 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 means for persons to file required

information with the committee relating

to olives supplies, shipments,

dispositions, and other information

necessary to effectively carry out the

purpose of the Act and the order.

California olives are shipped year-round

and these forms are used accordingly. A

USDA form is used to allow growers to

vote on amendments to or continuance

of the order.

Olive producers who are nominated

by their peers to serve as representatives

on the committee must file nomination

forms with the Secretary. Handler

representatives must also file

nomination forms with the Secretary.

Since the previous submission, there

has been a decrease in the number of

handlers; and, therefore, the number of

recordkeepers. In addition, all current

handlers have representatives on the

committee. Handlers are also required to

file forms relating to the receipt, storage,

use, disposition, inventory, and

shipments of olives.

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

headquarter’s 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 .28 hours per

response.

Respondents: California olive

producers and handlers.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

692.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 19.82.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 3,881 hours.

Comments: Comments are invited on:

(1) Whether the proposed collection of

the 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
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 67 / Tuesday, April 8, 1997 / Notices 16757

automated, electronic, mechanical, or

other technological collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Comments should reference OMB No.

0581–0142 and California Olive

Marketing Order No. 932, and be sent to

the USDA in care of Terry Vawter,

Marketing Specialist, California

Marketing Field Office, Fruit and

Vegetable Division, Agricultural

Marketing Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite

102B, Fresno, CA 93721. 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: April 1, 1997.

Robert C. Keeney,

Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.

[FR Doc. 97–8903 Filed 4–7–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P

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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service

Nutrition Program for the Elderly;

Initial Level of Assistance From

October 1, 1996 to September 30, 1997

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

initial level of per-meal assistance for

the Nutrition Program for the Elderly

(NPE) for Fiscal Year 1997. The Fiscal

Year 1997 initial level of assistance is

set at $.5857 for each eligible meal in

accordance with section 311(a)(4) of the

Older Americans Act of 1965, as

amended by section 310 of the Older

Americans Act Amendments of 1992

and preempted by the Agriculture, Rural

Development, Food and Drug

Administration, and Related Agencies

Appropriations Act, 1996. This is a

slight reduction from the Fiscal Year

1996 level of $.5864. The appropriation

for the program was decreased from

$150 million in Fiscal Year 1996 to $140

million in Fiscal Year 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ellen Henigan, Chief, Schools and

Institutions Branch, Food Distribution

Division, Food and Consumer Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101

Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia

22302–1594 or telephone (703) 305–

2644.