Notice of 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.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration's (GIPSA) intention to request an extension for and revision to the currently approved information collection for “Regulations Governing the National Inspection and Weighing System under the United States Grain Standards Act and under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.”

DATES:

We will consider comments that we receive by July 19, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• E-mail: Send comments via electronic mail to comments.gipsa@usda.gov.
• Mail: Send hardcopy written comments to Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604.
• Fax: Send comments by facsimile transmission to: (202) 690-2755.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to: Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604.

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.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Cathy McDuffie, the Information Management Specialist, at (301) 734-5190.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Congress enacted the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.) and the Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) to facilitate the marketing of grain, oilseeds, pulses, rice, and related commodities. These statutes provide for the establishment of standards and terms which 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. The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) of USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration establishes policies, guidelines, and regulations to carry out the objectives of the USGSA and the AMA. Regulations appear at 7 CFR Parts 800, 801, and 802 for the USGSA and 7 CFR Part 868 for the AMA.

The USGSA, with few exceptions, requires official certification 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 promulgating the USGSA and AMA require specific information collection and recordkeeping necessary to carry out requests for official services. Applicants for service must specify the kind and level of service desired, 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 Act to provide official inspection service, Class X or Class Y weighing services, or both, at one or more export port locations in the State. Designated agencies are State or local governmental agencies or persons designated under the Act to provide either 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 inspection services. Cooperators are agencies or departments of the Federal Government which have an interagency agreement or State agencies which have a reimbursable agreement with FGIS.

Title: Regulations Governing the National Inspection and Weighing System Under the USGSA and AMA of 1946.

OMB Number: 0580-0013.

Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2004.

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

Abstract: The United States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.) and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) provide that USDA 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 .09 hours per response.

Respondents: Grain producers, buyers, and sellers, elevator operators, grain merchandisers, and official grain inspection agencies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,400.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1041.6.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 225,000 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.