Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Assessment Exemption for Organic Commodities Under Federal Marketing Orders
| Published date | 19 March 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 15758 |
| Record Number | 2020-05507 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Agricultural Marketing Service,Agriculture Department |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 54 (Thursday, March 19, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 54 (Thursday, March 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15758-15759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05507]
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Notices
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 54 / Thursday, March 19, 2020 /
Notices
[[Page 15758]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS-SC-20-0020; SC20-900-1]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection: Assessment Exemption for Organic Commodities
Under Federal Marketing Orders
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 an extension for the form currently used by
marketers to apply for exemption from market promotion assessments
under Federal marketing order programs.
DATES: Comments on this notice are due by May 18, 2020 to be assured of
consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk,
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250;
Fax: (202) 720-8938; or internet: www.regulations.gov. Comments should
reference the docket number and the date and page number of this issue
of the Federal Register and will be available for public inspection in
the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours or can be
viewed at: www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted in response to
this notice will be included in the record and will be made available
to the public. Please be advised that the identity of individuals or
entities submitting the comments will be made public on the internet at
the address provided above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Supervisory Marketing
Specialist, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0237, Room 1406-
S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 720-2491, Email:
[email protected].
Small businesses may request information on this notice by
contacting Richard Lower, Marketing Order and Agreement Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop
0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 720-2491; or
Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Organic Handler Market Promotion Assessment Exemption under
Federal Marketing Orders.
OMB Number: 0581-0216.
Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2020.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently-approved information
collection.
Abstract: Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for
producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops in specified
production areas to work together to solve marketing problems that
cannot be solved individually.
Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 as amended
(7 U.S.C. 601-674), marketing orders may authorize production and
marketing research, including paid advertising, to promote various
commodities, which is paid for by assessments that are levied on the
handlers who are regulated by the Orders.
On May 13, 2002, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (7
U.S.C. 7901) amended the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7201), exempting any person who handles or markets
solely 100 percent organic products from paying these assessments with
respect to any agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified
organic farm, as defined in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 6502). A certified organic handler can apply for this exemption
by completing a ``Certified Organic Handler Application for Exemption
from Market Promotion Assessments Paid Under Federal Marketing
Orders,'' and submitting it to the applicable marketing order committee
or board.
Section 900.700 of the regulations (7 CFR part 900.700) provides
for exemption from assessments. This notice applies to the following
marketing orders: 7 CFR parts 906, Oranges and grapefruit grown in
Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; 915, Avocados grown in south Florida;
922, Apricots grown in designated counties in Washington; 923, Sweet
cherries grown in designated counties in Washington; 925, Grapes grown
in a designated area of southeastern California; 927, Pears grown in
Oregon and Washington; 929, Cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota,
Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in New York; 930, Tart cherries
grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
and Wisconsin; 932, Olives grown in California; 948, Irish potatoes
grown in Colorado; 955, Vidalia onions grown in Georgia; 956, sweet
onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington and
northeast Oregon; 958, Onions grown in certain designated counties in
Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon; 959, Onions grown in South Texas;
966, Tomatoes grown in Florida; 981, Almonds grown in California; 982,
Hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington; 984, Walnuts grown in
California; 985, Spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, Oregon,
and parts of Nevada and Utah; 986, Pecans produced in Alabama,
Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana,
Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, and Texas; 987, Domestic dates produced or packed in
Riverside County, California; 989, Raisins produced from grapes grown
in California; and 993, Dried prunes produced in California.
The information collected is used only by authorized marketing
order committee or board employees, who are the primary users of the
information, and by authorized representatives of the USDA, including
the AMS Specialty Crops Program's regional and headquarters staff, who
are the secondary users of the information.
Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection
of
[[Page 15759]]
information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
Respondents: Respondents are eligible certified organic handlers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 210.
Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 210.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 52.5 hours.
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) was 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
other forms of information technology.
Dated: March 12, 2020.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-05507 Filed 3-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
