Notice2026-08597
Almonds Grown in California; Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
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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
May 4, 2026
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 an extension for, and revision to, a currently approved information collection for Almonds Grown in California, Marketing Order No. 981.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 85 (Monday, May 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23939-23940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08597]
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Notices
Federal Register
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or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 85 / Monday, May 4, 2026 / Notices
[[Page 23939]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-25-0465]
Almonds Grown in California; Notice of Request for Extension and
Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
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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 an extension for, and revision to, a currently approved
information collection for Almonds Grown in California, Marketing Order
No. 981.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice. Comments can be sent to the Docket Clerk,
Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237. Comments
can also be submitted to the Docket Clerk electronically by email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#94d9f5e6fff1e0fdfaf3dbe6f0f1e6d7fbf9f9f1fae0d4e1e7f0f5baf3fbe2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="044965766f61706d6a634b76606176476b6969616a7044717760652a636b72">[email protected]</span></a> or via the internet at: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Comments should reference the document number and
the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be included in the
record, will be made available to the public, and may be viewed at:
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Please be advised that comments are posted
to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> without change.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Johnson, Marketing Specialist,
or Matthew Pavone, Chief, Rulemaking Services Branch, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237;
telephone: (202) 720-8085, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4511243c292a376b0f2a2d2b362a2b7605303621246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b1f2a322724396501242325382425780b3e382f2a652c243d">[email protected]</span></a> or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f9b4988d8d919c8ed7a9988f96979cb98c8a9d98d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="074a6673736f627029576671686962477274636629606871">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Almonds Grown in California, Marketing Order No. 981.
OMB Number: 0581-0242.
Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2026.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request
are essential to carry out the intent of the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674) (the Act), to
provide respondents the type of service they request and to administer
Marketing Order No. 981 (7 CFR part 981, the Order), which regulates
the handling of almonds grown in California.
The Order and its rules and regulations authorize the Almond Board
of California (Board), the organization responsible for local
administration of the marketing order, to require handlers and other
certain entities to submit information.
Since September 2007, the Board has been operating a mandatory
program under the marketing order to help reduce the potential for
Salmonella in almonds. The Board developed forms as a means for
handlers to file required information with the Board relating to the
treatment of almonds. Almond handlers are required to submit annual
treatment plans to the Board and inspection agency regarding how they
plan to treat their almonds in compliance with the program.
Entities interested in being almond process authorities that
validate technologies are required to submit an application to the
Board on ABC Form No. 51, ``Application for Process Authority for
Almonds.'' Manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico
interested in being approved to accept untreated almonds, provided they
agree to treat the almonds themselves under the Board's Direct
Verifiable (DV) program, are required to submit an application to the
Board on ABC Form No. 52, ``Application for Direct Verifiable (DV)
Program for Further Processing of Untreated Almonds.'' Entities
interested in being approved DV Program user auditors are required to
apply to the Board on ABC Form No. 53, ``Application for Direct
Verifiable (DV) Program Auditors.'' To ensure compliance with the
mandatory program, entities are required to use either an on-site or
audit-based verification program and annually submit a treatment plan
to the Board on ABC Form No. 54, ``Handler Treatment Plan.'' An
individual desiring approval as a custom processor must demonstrate
that their facility meets the Order's treatment process requirements
and must submit an application to the Board on ABC Form No. 55,
``Custom Processor Application.''
The information collected is used only by authorized
representatives of USDA, including the AMS Specialty Crops Program's
regional and headquarters' staff, and authorized employees and agents
of the Board. Authorized Board employees, agents, and the industry are
the primary users of the information, and AMS is the secondary user.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 1.1 hours per response.
Respondents: Almond handlers; persons or organizations that would
like to qualify to be Board-approved process authorities that validate
treatments and technologies; manufacturers who would like to qualify to
participate in the Board's DV program; and entities that would like to
qualify as auditors under the DV program.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 225.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.00.
Estimated Number of Recordkeeping hours: 3,900 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,210 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information has practical utility; (2) the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those
[[Page 23940]]
who respond, including through 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.
Erin Morris, Administrator,
Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-08597 Filed 5-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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