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 Services' (AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for the Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products—Recordkeeping (Subpart B).

DATES:

Comments received by December 6, 2002, will be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Susan M. Sausville, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Dairy Standardization Branch, Room 2746-South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0230; Tel: (202) 720-2643, Fax: (202) 720-2643 or via e-mail at susan.sausville@usda.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products—Record Keeping (Subpart B).

OMB Number: 0581-0110.

Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2003.

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

Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) directs the Department to develop programs which will provide for and facilitate the marketing of agricultural products. One of these programs is the USDA voluntary inspection and grading program for dairy products (7 CFR part 58) where these dairy products are graded according to U.S. grade standards by a USDA grader. The dairy products under the dairy program may be identified with the USDA grade mark. Dairy processors, buyers, retailers, institutional users, and consumers have requested that such a program be developed to assure the uniform quality of dairy products purchased. In order for any service program to perform satisfactorily, there are regulations for the provider and user. For these reasons, the dairy inspection and grading program regulations were developed and issued under the authority of the Act. These regulations are essential to administer the program to meet the needs of the user and to carry out the purposes of the Act.

The information collection requirements in this request are essential to carry out the intent of the AMA to ensure that dairy products are produced under sanitary conditions and that buyers are purchasing a quality product. In order for the Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products to serve the government, industry, and the consumer, laboratory test results must be recorded.

Respondents are not required to submit information to the agency. The records are to be evaluated by a USDA inspector at the time of an inspection. These records include quality tests of each producer, plant records of required tests and analysis, and starter and cheese make records. As an offsetting benefit, the records required by USDA are also records that are routinely used by the inspected facility for their own supervisory and quality control purposes.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this record keeping is estimated to average 2.85 hours per response.

Respondents: Dairy products manufacturing facilities.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 487.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1388.

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of the 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 use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to the Office of the Deputy Administrator, USDA/AMS/ Dairy Programs, Room 2968-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20090-6456. 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.