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

22997

Vol. 66, No. 88

Monday, May 7, 2001

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[FV–01–332]

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 intention of the

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to

request an extension for and revision to

a currently approved information

collection in support of the Regulations

Governing Inspection and Certification

of Processed Fruits and Vegetables and

Related Products.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on

or before July 6, 2001.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact James R. Rodeheaver, Processed

Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable

Programs, Agricultural Marketing

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

STOP 0247, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–

0247; fax (202) 690–1527; or e-mail

‘‘james.rodeheaver@usda.gov’’.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title:

‘‘Regulations Governing Inspection and

Certification of Processed Fruits and

Vegetables and Related Products—7

CFR 52’’.

OMB Number: 0581–0123.

Expiration Date of Approval:

December 31, 2001.

Type of Request: Extension and

revision of a currently approved

information collection.

Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing

Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.)

(AMA) directs and authorizes the

Department to develop standards of

quality, grades, grading programs, and

services which facilitate trading of

agricultural products and assure

consumers of quality products which

are graded and identified under USDA

programs. To provide programs and

services, section 203(h) of the AMA

directs and authorizes the Secretary of

Agriculture to inspect, certify, and

identify the grade, class, quality,

quantity, and condition of agricultural

products under such rules and

regulations as the Secretary may

prescribe, including assessment and

collection of fees for the cost of the

service. The regulations in 7 CFR part

52 provide a voluntary program for

grading processed fruits and vegetables

and related products on the basis of U.S.

standards and grades. AMS also

provides other types of voluntary

services under the regulations, e.g.,

contract and specification acceptance

services, facility assessment services

and certifications of quantity and

quality. Voluntary grading services are

available on a resident basis or a lot-fee

basis. Respondents may request resident

service on a continuous basis or on an

as-needed basis. The service is paid for

by the user (user-fee). Because this is a

voluntary program, respondents need to

request or apply for the specific service

they wish, and in doing so, they provide

information. Since the AMA requires

that the cost of service be assessed and

collected, information is collected to

establish the Agency’s cost. The

information collection requirements in

this request are essential to carry out the

intent of the AMA, to provide the

respondents the type of service they

request, and to administer the program.

The information collected is used only

by authorized representatives of the

USDA (AMS, Fruit and Vegetable

Programs’ national staff; regional

directors and their staffs; Area Officersin Charge and their staffs; and resident

Federal graders). The information is

used to administer and to conduct and

carry out the grading services requested

by the respondents. The Agency is the

primary user of the information.

Information is needed to carry out

inspection and grading services to

evaluate products as to quality for

compliance with the respective grade

standards or product specifications.

Affected public may include any

partnership, association, business trust,

corporation, organized group, and State,

County or Municipal government, and

any authorized agent that has a financial

interest in the commodity involved.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 0.0007 hours per

response (33,492 total hours divided by

48,127 total annual responses).

Respondents: Applicants who are

applying for grading and inspection

services, and the Qualified Through

Verification Program.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,672.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 28.784.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 33,492.

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

the use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Comments may be sent to Mr. James R.

Rodeheaver, Processed Products Branch,

Fruit and Vegetable Programs,

Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Room 0709,

South Building, STOP 0247, P.O. Box

96456, Washington, DC 20090–4693;

faxed to (202) 690–1087; or e-mailed to

james.rodeheaver@usda.gov.

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: May 1, 2001.

Kenneth C. Clayton,

Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing

Service.

[FR Doc. 01–11429 Filed 5–4–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P