[Federal Register: January 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 15)] [Notices] [Page 3674-3675] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25ja99-28] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Docket No. FV99-997-1 NC] Notice 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 in support of the Provisions Regulating the Quality of Domestically Produced Peanuts Handled by Persons Not Subject to the Marketing Agreement No. 146 based on changes in program requirements. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 26, 1999. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Dawana Johnson, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, Room 2525-S, Washington, DC, 20090-6456, Telephone: (202) 720-1755 or Fax: (202) 720-5698. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Provisions Regulating the Quality of Domestically Produced Peanuts Handled by Person's Not Subject to the Peanut Marketing Agreement. OMB Number: 0581-0163. Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999. Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: Under authority of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), Peanut Marketing Agreement No. 146 and the Peanut Administrative Committee (Committee) were established by the Secretary in 1965 to minimize aflatoxin contamination in peanuts and peanut products. The Agreement was signed by a majority of domestic peanut handlers (signatory handlers). The Committee works with AMS in administering the Agreement. Pub. L. 101-220, enacted December 12, 1989, amended section 608b of the Act to require that all handlers who have not signed the Agreement (non-signatory handlers) be subject to quality, handling, and inspection requirements to the same extent and manner as are required under the Agreement. Regulations to implement Pub. L. 101-220 were issued and made effective on December 4, 1990 (55 FR 49983). It is estimated that 5 percent of the domestic peanut crop is marketed by non-signatory handlers and the remainder of the crop is handled by signatory handlers. The objective of the Agreement and the non-signatory handling regulations (7 CFR part 997) is to ensure that only wholesome peanuts enter edible market channels. Under both regulations, farmers stock peanuts with visible Aspergillus flavus mold (the principle source of aflatoxin) are required to be diverted to non-edible uses. Both regulations also provide that shelled peanuts meeting minimum outgoing quality requirements must be chemically analyzed for aflatoxin contamination. Peanut handlers are business entities that buy raw peanuts from farmers and process them into shelled product (kernels) that is sold to manufacturers who make peanut butter and other peanut products. Under this information collection burden, peanut handlers are respondents and recordkeepers. A proposed and final rulemaking process, which became effective in January 1997, dramatically reduced the number of information collection burden hours for all domestic peanut handlers. The number of forms required to be filed by non-signatory peanut handlers was reduced from 11 forms to only 2 forms. That action was taken to be consistent with reductions in the reporting requirements made to the Agreement regulations and applied to signatory peanut handlers. The information collection burden for signatory handlers (OMB No. 0581-0067) was revised and approved July 27, 1998. This information collection burden report registers similar reductions in the number of forms and information collection burden for non-signer handlers. Information formerly needed from the 11 forms has been condensed into 2 forms that must be filed by non-signer [[Page 3675]] handlers. Some of the information formerly required on the 11 forms is no longer needed because certain non-signer regulations were terminated. That information had to do with restricted and unrestricted peanuts (terms no longer used in the regulations) and disposal of non- edible peanuts to certain outlets (no longer regulated and monitored). Using the 2 forms decreases the estimated total annual burden on handlers by 327 hours, from 591 to 264 hours. Also, the number of total annual responses supplied by handlers for the entire non-signer peanut information collection decreases from 1,500 to 792. Handlers Monthly Report of Farmers Stock--Form FV-117, deals with each handler's shelled peanuts and what is done with those shelled peanuts to get them ready for sale to manufacturers. This report is filed monthly. Monthly Report of Dispositions of Peanuts--Form FV-117-1, deals with information on each handler's acquisitions and dispositions of farmers stock peanuts. Farmers stock peanuts are raw, inshell peanuts delivered by farmers to peanut handlers. This report is also filed monthly. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.25 hours (15 minutes) per response. Respondents: Peanut handlers who have not signed the peanut marketing Agreement. Estimated Number of Respondents: 33. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 24. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 264 hrs. 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 through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, and mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should reference OMB No. 0581-0163 and the Provisions Regulating The Quality Of Domestically Produced Peanuts Handled By Persons Not Subject To The Peanut Marketing Agreement (7 CFR Part 997) and be sent to USDA in care of Dawana Johnson at the address above. 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 a final request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Dated: January 19, 1999. Robert C. Keeney, Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. [FR Doc. 99-1610 Filed 1-22-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P