Notice2023-27534
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 15, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection 0581-0268 for the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research and Information Program.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86873-86874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27534]
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Notices
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2023 /
Notices
[[Page 86873]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-23-0069]
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
an extension of and revision to the currently approved information
collection 0581-0268 for the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research and
Information Program.
DATES: Comments must be received by February 13, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice. All comments must be submitted through the
Federal e-rulemaking portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and should
reference the document number and the date and page number of this
issue of the Federal Register. All comments submitted in response to
this notice will be included in the rulemaking record and will be made
available to the public. The identity of the individuals or entities
submitting comments will be made public on the internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Cook, Marketing Specialist at
telephone: (202) 720-8085, or electronic mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9f2d8cdd0dc97fad6d6d2f9cccaddd897ded6cf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d398b2a7bab6fd90bcbcb893a6a0b7b2fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a>, or
Sarah Richardson, Marketing Specialist at telephone: 202-720-8085
electronic mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90c3f1e2f1f8bec2f9f3f8f1e2f4e3fffed0e5e3f4f1bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eab98b988b82c4b88389828b988e998584aa9f998e8bc48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>, Market Development
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Program.
OMB Number: 0581-0268.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2024.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information
program was created to help strengthen the position of Christmas trees
in the marketplace, and maintain, develop, and expand markets for
Christmas trees in the United States. The Christmas Tree Promotion,
Research, and Information Order (Order) (7 CFR part 1214) is authorized
under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996
(1996 Act) (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425).
The Order was implemented November 2011, and immediately stayed.
The stay was lifted on April 7, 2014, in accordance with the provisions
of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). Currently, the
Christmas tree program is administered by the Christmas Tree Promotion
Board (Board) which is appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and
financed by a mandatory assessment on producers and importers of fresh
cut Christmas trees. The assessment rate is $0.15 per Christmas tree
cut and sold domestically or imported into the United States. The
program provides an exemption for producers and importers that cut and
sell or import fewer than 500 Christmas trees annually. In 2019, a
referendum was held among eligible producers and importers to determine
whether they favor continuation of the program. Fifty-five percent of
Christmas tree producers and importers who voted were in favor of
continuing the program, and therefore, the program continues to help
maintain and expand markets for Christmas trees.
The information collection requirements in this request are
essential to carry out the intent of the Order and the 1996 Act. The
objective in carrying out this responsibility includes assuring the
following: (1) funds are collected and properly accounted for; (2)
expenditures of all funds are for the purposes authorized by the 1996
Act and Order; and (3) the board's administration of the programs
conforms to USDA policy.
The Order's provisions have been carefully reviewed and every
effort has been made to minimize any unnecessary recordkeeping costs or
requirements, including efforts to utilize information already
submitted under other Christmas tree programs administered by USDA and
other State programs.
The forms covered under this collection require the minimum
information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements of the
program. Such information can be supplied without data processing
equipment or outside technical expertise. In addition, there are no
additional training requirements for individuals filling out reports
and remitting assessments to the Board. The forms are simple, easy to
understand, and place as small a burden as possible on the person
required to file the information.
Collecting information yearly would coincide with normal industry
business practices. The timing and frequency of collecting information
are intended to meet the needs of the industry while minimizing the
amount of work necessary to fill out the required reports. The
requirement to keep records for two years beyond the fiscal period of
their applicability is consistent with normal industry practices. In
addition, the information to be included on these forms is not
available from other sources because such information relates
specifically to individual producers and importers who will be subject
to the provisions of the Order and 1996 Act. Therefore, there is no
practical method for collecting the required information without the
use of these forms.
AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, which
requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically
to the maximum extent possible.
Estimate of Burden: Public recordkeeping burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average 0.43 hour per response.
Respondents: Producers and importers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,000.
[[Page 86874]]
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 9,143.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.83.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,956 hours.
The Board utilizes a variety of forms including domestic sales
report and importer sales report; application for exemption; nomination
form and ballot form; reimbursement of assessments and refund
application forms; donation form; and recordkeeping requirements. The
forms and information covered under this information collection require
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements
of the program and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the
applicable authority. Lastly, the board is always looking to provide
electronic versions of the forms for easier access and submission.
Forms were updated to add a box to allow respondents to include
both mailing and physical addresses, if they differ. This change allows
Board staff to better record contact information for producers and
importers. ``Domestic Sales Report'', ``Importer Sales Report'', and
``Application for Exemption'' were all updated to add this additional
box. Forms requesting a fax number from respondents were revised to
remove the box due to the expanded use of electronic mail.
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.
All responses to this document will be summarized and included in
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agriculture Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-27534 Filed 12-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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