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United States Department of Agriculture

Agency Retrospective Review Plan Report—September 2012—USDA

E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB

Control No.

Title of

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or

Target 

Completion 

Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or

collection burdens

information Progress updates and

anticipated accomplishments

USDA – Food Safety

Food Safety

& Inspection 

Service

(FSIS)

0583-AD39 Electronic Import

Inspection and 

Certification of 

Imported Products and 

Foreign Establishments

This rule will amend import

inspection regulations to provide for 

the electronic transmittal of foreign 

establishment certificates and foreign 

inspection certificates. FSIS will also 

propose to amend its regulations to 

give importers the option of 

submitting electronic import 

inspection applications.

Final rule to

publish by 

6/2013.

The final rule, in conjunction with the Public Health

Information System, will reduce the information 

collection burden on importers by approximately

10,000 hours.

The electronic import system will also facilitate the 

import product foreign inspection and annual 

foreign establishment certifications by providing 

immediate and direct electronic government-togovernment exchange of information; as well as 

exchange of information with to the CBP system. 

Proposed

publish in 

rule is expected

12/2012.

to

The new business practice may be operational as 

early as March or April 2012, and the regulations 

will codify the changes.
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FSIS 0583-AD41 Electronic Export The electronic export application and Final rule to The final rule is expected to reduce the information Proposed rule published on

Application and certification system will be a component publish by collection burden. Actual amount TBD. January 23, 2012.

Certification Fee of the Agency's Public Health 4/2013.

Information System (PHIS). The export When an electronic government-to-government 

component of PHIS will be available as system interface or data exchange is used, 

an alternative to the paper- based fraudulent transactions’, such as false alterations 

application and certification process. and reproductions will be significantly reduced, if 

not eliminated. Moreover, the workload of the 

inspection personal is reduced through the 

elimination of physical handling and processing of 

applications and certificates, reducing a two step 

process to one step.
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E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB

Control No.

Title of

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or

Target 

Completion 

Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or

collection burdens

information Progress updates and

anticipated accomplishments

FSIS 0583-AC59 Prior Labeling Approval

System: Generic Label 

Approval

This rulemaking will continue an effort

initiated several years ago by amending 

FSIS' regulations to expand the types of 

labeling that are generically approved.

Final Rule to

publish by 

3/2013.

The final rule is expected to reduce the information

collection burden hours on industry by 31,091. 

The proposed rule would be beneficial because it 

would streamline the generic labeling process, 

while imposing no additional cost burden on 

establishments. Consumers would benefit because 

industry would have the ability to introduce 

products to the marketplace more quickly. 

Moreover, the change would make better use of 

FSIS resources because it would reduce the number 

of labels required to be reviewed by the Agency.

Proposed rule published

12/2011; electronic system for 

label submission established in 

early 2012.

FSIS 0583-AD32 Modernization of

Poultry Slaughter 

inspection

This rule will modernize young chicken

and turkey slaughter inspection in the 

United States by focusing FSIS 

inspection resources on the areas of 

the poultry production system that 

pose the greatest risk to food safety. 

The new inspection system will shift 

the responsibility for detecting visible 

carcass defects from FSIS inspectors to 

plant employees. FSIS will continue to 

conduct an on-line carcass-by-carcass 

inspection, but FSIS inspectors will be 

located further down the production 

line, where they will be presented with 

carcasses that have fewer defects to 

inspect.

Final rule to

publish by 

12/2012 with a

90-day 

implementati 

on period. 

Plants will be 

allowed to opt 

in earlier. Rule 

to be 

implemented 

by 3/2013.

The final rule will reduce costs by making better use

of the Agency’s inspection resources and improving 

the effectiveness of inspection systems. It is also 

expected to reduce the risk of foodborne illness in 

the United States and remove unnecessary barriers 

to innovation. The final rule will provide the 

framework for action to provide public healthbased inspection in all establishments that

slaughter amenable poultry species.

Proposed rule was published

January 27, 2012.

FSIS received requests for 

clarification on certain aspects

of the proposal, the information 

was provided and the public 

comment period was extended 

until May 29, 2012.
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E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/ RIN/OMB Title of Brief Description Actual or Anticipated savings in costs and /or information Progress updates and

Sub-agency Control No. Initiative/Rule/ICR Target collection burdens anticipated accomplishments

Completion 

Date

USDA – National Resources and Environment

Forest 0596-AD01 National Environmental The Forest Service is proposing to Final Rule to Categorical exclusions will reduce cost and time The proposed rule published

Service(FS) Policy Act Efficiencies develop and provide notice and publish by commitment burden on the Agency without June 13, 2012. The final rule is 

comment on the addition of new 12/2012. reducing environmental protection. under development.

categorical exclusions (CEs) to its NEPA 

Regulations. These CEs, designed to 

expedite landscape restoration 

activities on National Forests, 

Grasslands, and Prairies, will 

supplement existing Agency categorical 

exclusions found in 36 CFR part 220.6.

USDA – Rural Development

Rural 0570-AA76 Rural Energy America The rule proposes to change the RES Final Rule to The final rule is expected to reduce the information Proposed rule is currently under

Business 0570-0050 Program and EEI grant application requirements publish by collection burden. Notably, an estimated 20 OMB review. The rule is 

Services 0570-0061 to reduce burden and streamline the 9/2013. percent reduction in the number of hours it takes expected to publish by 

(RBS) 0570-0059 application process by requesting to complete a technical report for those December 2012.

documentation for a complete applications for projects with total project costs 

application based on total project (TPC) of more than $80,000 to $200,000; the 

costs. elimination of a technical report for those 

applications for projects with TPC of $80,000 or 

less; and a 50 percent reduction in the number of 

hours it takes to complete the narrative portion of 

an application.

RBS 0570–AA85 Business and Industry The proposed rule will alter the way Final rule to Estimated reduction in Burden up to 2,000 hours. Proposed rule is expected to

Loan Guaranteed RBS services the loan guarantees be published publish March 2013.

Program making the program operate at a lower by 12/2013.

cost.
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E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/

Sub-agency

RIN/OMB

Control No.

Title of

Initiative/Rule/ICR

Brief Description Actual or

Target 

Completion 

Date

Anticipated savings in costs and /or

collection burdens

information Progress updates and

anticipated accomplishments

Rural

Housing 

Service

0575-AC91 Community Facilities

Loan and Grants

Update program operation

to consolidate, streamline, 

existing processes.

in an effort

and simplify 

Final Rule

publish in

7/2013.

to The agency is aligning its application requirements

with the lending industry. As such, approximately 

90 applicants each year would not be required to

provide an examination opinion, which averages 

about $45,000 each. Hence, this change will save 

the public approximately $4 million a year.

Proposed rule is expected

publish December 2012.

to

USDA – Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

Food &

Nutrition 

Service 

(FNS)

0584–AD87 Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program 

(SNAP): Eligibility, 

Certification, and 

Employment and 

Training Provisions

FNS is proposing to allow additional

administrative options for States to use 

telephone interviews and telephonic 

and electronic signature in certifying 

clients for the SNAP programs. The 

proposed change, which has been 

authorized by USDA in many States 

under program waivers, will be 

integrated in regulation pursuant to the 

2008 Farm Bill.

Final rule is

expected to 

be published 

by 1/2013.

Reduction in burden for SNAP applicant households

is approximately 20 million hours.

Permitting households to fulfill the interview 

requirement without the need to visit the local 

SNAP office reduces transportation costs and 

potential loss of wages for households, and 

reducing burden for State SNAP agencies that 

administer the program.

Proposed rule published 5/2011.

FNS 0584-AD60 Direct and Discretionary

Certification in the 

School Meals Programs

Requiring local educational agencies to

conduct direct certification in 

conjunction with the SNAP. Under the 

direct certification process, a local 

educational agency obtains 

documentation of a child's receipt of 

SNAP benefits from the State of local 

program office.

Effective in

the 2011-2012 

school year.

Final rule is 

expected to 

be published 

by April 2013.

Reduction in burden hours for program

is roughly 113,000 hours per year.

participants Interim rule published 4/2011;

effective in the 2011-12 school 

year.
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E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Agency/ RIN/OMB Title of Brief Description Actual or Anticipated savings in costs and /or information Progress updates and

Sub-agency Control No. Initiative/Rule/ICR Target collection burdens anticipated accomplishments

Completion 

Date

USDA – Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services

Farm 0563-0084 Acreage and Crop To improve and streamline the existing Implementati The final rule is expected to reduce the information OMB cleared the information

Service Reporting Streamlining information collection activities on is to be collection burden. Actual amount TBD. collection on March 23, 2012. 

Agency Initiative currently approved by OMB by conducted in 

eliminating or minimizing the phases with FSA & RMA are gearing up to 

duplication of information collected by the first phase start the first phase.

each of the agencies occurring in 

selected 

counties in 

Kansas.

USDA – Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal Plant 0579–AD23 Certification, APHIS is creating a new electronic The Target APHIS anticipates both savings in cost and The Assessment of business

Health & 0579-AC02 Accreditation, system to replace its ePermits system Completion information collection burdens for APHIS and the practices will be an ongoing 

Inspection Plus the Registration, Permits, that will integrate programs/processes Date is public. The affected publics would be State, Local, initiative to incorporate 

Service various and other Licenses that are currently not electronic and/or 12/2014; and Tribal Governments; Businesses and Other For- certifications, accreditations and 

(APHIS) OMB (CARPOL) part of a consolidated system. The however, this Profits (small entities included); Not-for-Profits; other license processes. The 

Control CARPOL system will streamline all will be an Farms; Individuals and Households; and Foreign Target Completion Date for 

Numbers certification, accreditation, registration, ongoing Federal Governments. completion of the permitting 

related to permitting, and other license processes initiative. phase of the Assessment of 

the across APHIS and will communicate business practices is 12/2014.

collections with other systems.

that will be 

part of 

CARPOL

APHIS 0579-0007, Animal Disease Testing MIM technology uses devices similar to APHIS plans to APHIS estimates that 26, 720 hours could be saved There are 950,000 unique

0579-0047, and Animal Traceability tablets and PDAs to allow officials to add devices each year. AIN/RFID tags and 630,000 

0579- via Mobile Information wave a wand in front of an animal and and increase unique USDA metal tags now in 

0070/0137, Management (MIM) read the animal’s identification the use. APHIS Accredited
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E.O 13563 - Improving Regulation and

Agency/ RIN/OMB Title of Brief Description Actual or

Sub-agency Control No. Initiative/Rule/ICR Target 

Completion 

Date

0579-0101, Technology number. The MIM device can record functionality

0579-0127, test results, print labels with all of the devices 

0579-0137, necessary information for test tubes to as necessary.

0579-0146, be submitted to a lab, and can file and 

0579-0148, store this information. When samples 

0579-0185, are submitted to a lab, the lab can 

0579-0189, transmit the test results to the 

0579-0192, appropriate official to take immediate 

0579-0324, action. This reduces the amount of 

0579-0338, time spent waiting for results and the 

0579-0367 cost of mailing or transporting the 

results from the lab to the official.

Regulatory Review

Anticipated savings in costs and /or

collection burdens

information Progress updates and

anticipated accomplishments

Veterinarians in Michigan,

California, Montana, Ohio, 

Kansas, Colorado, and New 

Mexico have started to use the 

MIM technology for cattle, and 

1.5 million unique animal 

sightings have been uploaded 

into the MIM repository. In 

Pennsylvania, Maine, Texas, and 

Washington, APHIS uses MIM 

technology to record animals 

that are exported as well as 

those rejected for export at the 

port. In April 2012, MIM was 

integrated with the new VS 

Surveillance Collaboration 

Services (SCS), an electronic 

information management 

system.
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E.O. 13610 - Identifying and Reducing Regulatory Burdens