[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 192 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57319-57320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23260]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, 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 our intention to request a 3-
year extension and revision of a currently approved information 
collection for ``Export Inspection and Weighing Waiver for High Quality 
Specialty Grain Transported in Containers.''

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by December 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95f6faf8f8f0fbe1e6bbf2fce5e6f4d5e0e6f1f4bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="61020e0c0c040f15124f060811120021141205004f060e17">[email protected]</span></a>.
    <bullet> Mail: Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 690-2755.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604.
    <bullet> Internet: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All comments should make reference to the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
    Background Documents: Information collection package and other 
documents relating to this action will be available for public 
inspection in the above office during regular business hours.
    Read Comments: All comments will be available for public inspection 
in the above office during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27 (b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
collection of information activities and the use of the information, 
contact Tess Butler (202) 720-7486, or at the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress enacted The United States Grain 
Standards Act (USGSA) (7 U.S.C. 71-87k) to facilitate the marketing of 
grain in interstate and foreign commerce. The USGSA, with few 
exceptions, requires that all grain shipped from the United States must 
be officially inspected and officially weighed. The USGSA authorizes 
the Department of Agriculture to waive the mandatory inspection and 
weighing requirements of the USGSA in circumstances when the objectives 
of the USGSA would not be impaired.
    The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) 
amended section 7 CFR 800.18 of the regulations to waive the mandatory 
inspection and weighing requirements of the USGSA for high quality 
specialty grain exported in containers. GIPSA established this waiver 
to facilitate the marketing of high quality specialty grain exported in 
containers. GIPSA determined that this action was consistent with the 
objectives of the USGSA and would promote the continuing development of 
the high quality specialty grain export market.
    To ensure that exporters of high quality specialty grain complied 
with this waiver, GIPSA required exporters to maintain records 
generated during the normal course of business that pertain to these 
shipments and make these documents available to GIPSA upon request for 
review or copying purposes (70 FR 73556). These records shall be

[[Page 57320]]

maintained for a period of 3 years. This information collection 
requirement is essential to ensure that exporters who ship high quality 
specialty grain in containers comply with the waiver provisions. GIPSA 
did not require exporters of high quality specialty grain to complete 
and submit new Federal government record(s), form(s), or report(s).
    Title: Export Inspection and Weighing Waiver for High Quality 
Specialty Grain Transported in Containers.
    OMB Number: 0580-0022.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: GIPSA amended the regulations under the United States 
Grain Standards Act (USGSA) to waive the mandatory inspection and 
weighing requirements for high quality specialty grain exported in 
containers. GIPSA established this waiver to facilitate the marketing 
of high quality specialty grain exported in containers. To ensure 
compliance with this wavier, GIPSA required these exporters to maintain 
records generated during their normal course of business that pertain 
to these shipments and make these documents available to GIPSA upon 
request, for review and copying purposes.

Grain Contracts

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting and recordkeeping burden for 
maintaining contract information was estimated to average 6.0 hours per 
exporter.
    Respondents: Exporters of high quality specialty grain in 
containers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 80.
    Estimated Number of Respondents per Request: 1.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 480 Hours.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 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 
forms of information technology. 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.

James E. Link,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-23260 Filed 10-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P


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