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 to a currently approved information collection for Cotton Classification and Market News Service.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by December 4, 2000 to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact Mack Bennett, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Cotton Programs, Market News Branch, 3275 Appling Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38133; (901) 384-3016 telephone and (901) 384-3036 fax.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Cotton Classification and Market News Service.

OMB Number: 0581-0009.

Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2001.

Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The Cotton Classification and Market News Service program provides market information on Cotton prices, quality, stocks, demand and supply to growers, ginners, merchandisers, textile mills and the public for their use in making sound business decisions. The Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act, 7 U.S.C. 471-476, authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (a) Collect and publish annually, statistics or estimates concerning the grades and staple lengths of stocks of cotton, known as the carryover, on hand on the 1st of August each year in warehouses and other establishments of every character in the continental U.S., and following such publication each year, to publish at intervals, in his/her discretion, his/her estimate of the grades and staple length of cotton of the then current crop (7 U.S.C. 471); (b) Collect, authenticate, publish and distribute by telegraph, radio, mail, or otherwise, timely information of the market supply, demand, location, and market prices of cotton (7 U.S.C. 473b). The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627, authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and disseminate marketing information, including adequate outlook information on a market-area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer requirements, aiding in the maintenance of farm income, and bringing about a balance between production and utilization of agricultural products.

The information collection requirements in this request are essential to carry out the intent of the Acts and to provide the cotton industry the type of information they need to make sound business decisions. The information collected is the minimum required. Information is requested from growers, cooperatives, merchants, manufacturers, and other government agencies. This includes information on cotton, cottonseed and cotton linters.

The information collected is used only by authorized employees of the USDA, AMS. The Cotton Industry is the primary user of the compiled information and AMS and other government agencies are secondary users.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.0968 (234/2417) hours per response.

Respondents: Cotton Merchandisers, Textile Mills, Ginners.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 495.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.883 (2,417/495).

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 234 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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Darryl Earnest, Assistant Associate Deputy Administrator, Cotton Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 0224, Room 2641-S, Washington, DC 20250. 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.