[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40133-40134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17887]


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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 
(GIPSA), USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: GIPSA intends to request that the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approve a 3-year extension of a currently approved 
information collection for the ``Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) and 
under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA).'' This approval is 
required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES: GIPSA will consider comments received by October 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Submit Comments Using the Internet: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the on-line instructions for submitting 
comments.
    <bullet> Mail, Courier or Hand Delivery: Irene Omade, GIPSA, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2530-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604.
    Instructions: All comments should be identified as ``FGIS 
Information Collection,'' and should reference the date and page number 
of this issue of the Federal Register. The information collection 
package and other documents relating to this action will be available 
for public inspection in Room 2530-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-3604 during regular business hours. All comments 
will be available for public inspection in the above office during 
regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)). Please call the Management and 
Budget Services Staff of GIPSA at (202) 720-8479 to arrange to inspect 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Omade, 202-720-8479.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress enacted the United States Grain 
Standards Act (USGSA) (7 U.S.C. 71-87k) and the Agricultural Marketing 
Act (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) to facilitate the marketing of grain, 
oilseeds, pulses, rice, and related commodities. These statutes provide 
for the establishment of standards and terms that accurately and 
consistently measure the quality of grain and related products, provide 
for uniform official inspection and weighing, provide regulatory and 
service responsibilities, and furnish the framework for commodity 
quality improvement incentives to both domestic and foreign buyers. 
GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) establishes policies, 
guidelines, and regulations to carry out the objectives of the USGSA 
and the AMA. Regulations appear at 7 CFR 800, 801, and 802 for the 
USGSA and 7 CFR 868 for the AMA.
    The USGSA, with few exceptions, requires official inspection of 
export grain sold by grade. Official services are provided, upon 
request, for grain in domestic commerce. The AMA authorizes similar 
inspection and weighing services, upon request, for rice, pulses, 
flour, corn meal, and certain other agricultural products. Conversely, 
the regulations promulgated under the USGSA and the AMA require 
specific information collection and recordkeeping necessary to carry 
out requests for official services. Applicants for official services 
must specify the kind and level of service, the identification of the 
product, the location, the amount, and other pertinent information in 
order that official personnel can efficiently respond to their needs.
    Official services under the USGSA are provided through FGIS field 
offices and delegated and/or designated State and private agencies. 
Delegated agencies are State agencies delegated authority under the 
USGSA to provide official inspection service, Class X or Class Y 
weighing services, or both, at one or more export port locations in the 
State.

[[Page 40134]]

Designated agencies are State or local governmental agencies or persons 
designated under the USGSA to provide official inspection services, 
Class X or Class Y weighing services, or both, at locations other than 
export port locations. State and private agencies, as a requirement for 
delegation and/or designation, must comply with all regulations, 
procedures, and instructions in accordance with provisions established 
under the USGSA. FGIS field offices oversee the performance of these 
agencies and provide technical guidance as needed.
    Official services under the AMA are performed, upon request, on a 
fee basis for domestic and export shipments either by FGIS employees, 
individual contractors, or cooperators. Contractors are persons who 
enter into a contract with FGIS to perform specified sampling and 
inspection services. Cooperators are agencies or departments of the 
Federal Government which have an interagency agreement, State agencies, 
or other entities which have a reimbursable agreement with FGIS.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements (United States 
Grain Standards Act and Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946).
    OMB Number: 0580-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2018.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The USGSA and the AMA authorize USDA to inspect, certify 
and identify the class, quality, quantity and condition of agricultural 
products shipped or received in interstate and foreign commerce.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting and record keeping burden for 
this collection of information is estimated to average .13 hours per 
response.
    Respondents: Grain producers, buyers, and sellers, elevator 
operators, grain merchandisers, and official grain inspection agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,610.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 144.30.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 158,144 hours.
    As required by the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) and its 
implementing regulations (5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(i)), GIPSA specifically 
requests comments 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.
    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.

Randall D. Jones,
Acting Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-17887 Filed 8-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P