Technical Service Center Operations, 43095-43096 [E6-12217]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 146 / Monday, July 31, 2006 / Notices
Expiration Date: September 30, 2006.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Section 31001(y) of the Debt
Collection Improvement Act of 1996
(Pub. L. 104–134), codified at 31 U.S.C.
3325(d), requires Federal agencies to
include the taxpayer identifying number
(TIN) of all persons or organizations
they pay whenever a request for
payment is submitted to Federal
payment officials. Departmental
Regulation 2100–2 reflects the statutory
provision at 31 U.S.C. 7701(c) which
requires all individuals and entities
doing business with USDA to furnish a
TIN. The purpose of the Supplemental
Form for Collecting Taxpayer
Identifying Numbers is to comply with
Federal law by enabling the Agency to
legally obtain a TIN from all persons
and organizations who are entered into
a direct payment relationship with FNS.
Affected Public: Individuals and
entities who enter into a direct payment
agreement with FNS under any of the
various nutrition and nutrition
education programs administered by
FNS.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
800.
Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
800.
Hours per Response: 0.0833.
Total Annual Reporting Hours: 66.6.
Number of Recordkeepers: 8.
Estimated Annual Hours per
Recordkeeper: 1.0.
Total Annual Recordkeeping Hours:
8.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 74.6
(annual reporting hours plus annual
recordkeeping hours).
Dated: July 20, 2006.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E6–12141 Filed 7–28–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS–2006–0017]
Technical Service Center Operations
Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice, request for comments.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) is reviewing
the organization, operations, and
services provided by its Technical
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:34 Jul 28, 2006
Jkt 208001
Service Center (TSC) in Omaha,
Nebraska, with the intent of improving
TSC programs that provide technical
advice, guidance, and information to
FSIS personnel, the regulated industry,
and the general public. FSIS is
particularly interested in improving
TSC programs that assist small
businesses. FSIS seeks comment from
the public as part of this effort to
improve TSC operations.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received on or before August 30, 2006.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested
persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web
site provides the ability to type short
comments directly into the comment
field on this web page or attach a file for
lengthier comments. Go to https://
www.regulations.gov and, in the
‘‘Search for Open Regulations’’ box,
select ‘‘Food Safety and Inspection
Service’’ from the agency drop-down
menu, then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In the
Docket ID column, select the FDMS
Docket Number FSIS–2006–0017 to
submit or view public comments and to
view supporting and related materials
available electronically. After the close
of the comment period, the docket can
be viewed using the ‘‘Advanced Search’’
function in Regulations.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD–
ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered
items: Send to Program Evaluation and
Improvement Staff, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 3833 South Building,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–3700.
Electronic mail:
fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.
All submissions received must
include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS–2006–0017.
All comments submitted in response
to this notice will be posted to the
regulations.gov Web site and on the
Agency’s Web site at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/
2006_Notices_Index/index.asp. The
comments also will be available for
public inspection in the FSIS Docket
Room at the address listed above
between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact
Matthew Michael, Director, Program
Evaluation and Improvement Staff,
Office of Program Evaluation,
Enforcement & Review, FSIS, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 3833
South Building, 14th and Independence
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
43095
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250–3700;
telephone (202) 720–6735; fax (202)
690–1030; e-mail:
matthew.michael@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 1997, FSIS established the TSC to
serve as a vital component in
implementing the Agency’s sciencebased inspection system. As part of the
1996 FSIS reorganization, the TSC was
established to provide frontline
inspectors and supervisors consistent
technical guidance and expertise on the
interpretation, enforcement, and
application of regulations, policies, and
systems. FSIS’ intent was to concentrate
in one location the technical expertise
previously located in numerous
headquarters and field offices in order
to provide comprehensive and
consistent technical advice quickly
during the implementation of this
initiative. The center’s creation was
critical to the successful
implementation of the 1996 Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) systems regulation, which
established new requirements for the
regulated industry and changed many of
the tasks carried out by inspectors.
In November 2004, FSIS asked the
National Advisory Committee on Meat
and Poultry Inspection to provide input
on how well the TSC is functioning, and
what the center should be doing in light
of the fact that HACCP implementation
was complete. In its report to FSIS,
NACMPI fully supported the
continuation of the center to provide
technical assistance to the Agency and
the industry and made a number of
suggestions to improve the center’s
effectiveness, including improving
consistency of answers, compiling
helpful resources for the industry, and
expanding formal correlation between
FSIS and industry.
The TSC continues to assist the FSIS
workforce, plant owners and operators,
state and foreign government officials,
industry representatives, and others by:
• Providing technical advice,
guidance, and information related to the
interpretation, application,
implementation and enforcement of
regulations, policies and systems
concerning meat and poultry
processing, slaughter, imports and egg
products inspection activities;
• Contributing to the development of
Agency policy on various matters,
particularly issues involving inspection
at slaughter and processing;
• Correlating inspection procedures
and requirements with FSIS’ Office of
Field Operations personnel and
industry;
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
43096
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 146 / Monday, July 31, 2006 / Notices
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
• Guiding the implementation of new
and modified inspection programs and
procedures;
• Interacting with other program
areas to assure information exchange
and uniformity of regulatory issues
within the Agency;
• Working with the FSIS Center for
Learning to develop and deliver
training;
• Analyzing data in major Agency
databases for recurring and specific
project requirements; and
• Identifying emerging data analysis
and management needs, including
developing, piloting, implementing, and
maintaining databases and reporting
systems, and raising policy and program
issues based on that analysis.
Significantly, the TSC does not
provide a forum for resolving disputes
between inspection personnel and plant
management, nor does it rule on
appeals. This is a function of the chain
of command and the appeals process is
described in 9 CFR 306.5. The role of
the TSC is to assist decision making by
providing all parties with the standards
and other technical information needed
to understand, implement, apply, and
enforce regulatory requirements. Two
TSC staffs, both within the FSIS Office
of Policy, Program & Employee
Development, provide the services
described above. The Technical
Assistance/Correlation Staff (TAC)
provides technical expertise, guidance
and correlation. The Program Analysis
Staff (PAS) conducts data analysis and
special studies concerning Agency
program operations.
FSIS is now seeking broader input on
the organization, operations, and
services provided by the TSC, with the
intent of improving TSC programs. As
part of a comprehensive evaluation of
TSC operations and services, the
Agency is seeking comments from the
public and especially from small
businesses. Feedback from small
businesses is being requested
specifically as a result of the Agency’s
initiative to improve its outreach to
small and very small plants to further
improve their food safety programs.
Questions
All relevant comments are welcome,
but FSIS specifically seeks responses
from the regulated industry to the
following questions:
• In what way has the availability of
TSC services helped you with your
operations?
• When you have contacted the TSC,
has the response been prompt, clear,
thorough, and courteous?
• Is the technical guidance provided
by the TSC consistent with regulations
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:34 Jul 28, 2006
Jkt 208001
and policy as written? Is the technical
guidance consistent with guidance
given by FSIS inspection program
personnel?
• Have you used the TSC website? If
so, has it been useful?
• If you have contacted the TSC
multiple times regarding the same topic,
has the guidance been consistent over
time?
• How could the TSC improve its
services?
• Have you had difficulty in reaching
the TSC staff?
• What recommendations do you
have for TSC in communicating
information to you?
• What specifically could the TSC do
to improve its services to small
businesses?
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of
rulemaking and policy development is
important. Consequently, in an effort to
ensure that the public and in particular
minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice,
FSIS will announce it on-line through
the FSIS web page located at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/
2006_Notices_Index/index.asp.
FSIS also will make copies of this
Federal Register publication available
through the FSIS Constituent Update,
which is used to provide information
regarding FSIS policies, procedures,
regulations, Federal Register notices,
FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other
types of information that could affect or
would be of interest to our constituents
and stakeholders. The update is
communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail
subscription service consisting of
industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health
professionals, scientific professionals,
and other individuals who have
requested to be included. The update
also is available on the FSIS web page.
Through Listserv and the web page,
FSIS is able to provide information to a
much broader, more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an email
subscription service which provides
automatic and customized access to
selected food safety news and
information. This service is available at
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_and_events/email_subscription/
Options range from recalls to export
information to regulations, directives
and notices. Customers can add or
delete subscriptions themselves and
have the option to password protect
their account.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Done at Washington, DC, on July 26, 2006.
Barbara J. Masters,
D.V.M. Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6–12217 Filed 7–28–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Revision of Timber Sale Contract
Forms FS–2400–6 and FS–2400–6T
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of Availability; revised
standard timber sale contracts.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: By this notice, the Forest
Service is putting into use revised
versions of its standard timber sale
contracts, Form FS–2400–6, for scaled
sale procedures, and Form FS–2400–6T,
for tree measurement timber sale
procedures. After the Forest Service
issued substantially revised versions of
these contracts on May 6, 2004, the
agency continued to receive comments
from industry stakeholders. In response
to these comments, the Forest Service
engaged a consultant to evaluate the
contracts with regard to allocation of
risk between the timber Purchaser and
the agency. The present revisions reflect
the agency’s further analysis of the
contracts in light of the stakeholders’
comments and the consultant’s
conclusions. A side-by-side comparison
of the revised contracts and the previous
versions is available as provided in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
DATES: The contract revisions will be
implemented for contracts advertised
after August 30, 2006.
ADDRESSES: These timber sale contract
forms are available for public review on
the Forest Service worldwide Web/
Internet site at https://www.fs.fed.us/
forestmanagement/infocenter/
newcontracts/index.shtml.
Alternatively, the contracts can be
reviewed in the office of the Director of
Forest Management, Third Floor,
Northwest Wing, Yates Building, 201
14th Street, SW., Washington, DC.
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to
(202) 205–0893 to facilitate entry into
the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lathrop Smith, Forest Management
Staff, (202) 205–0858.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Forest Service uses standard
contracts for all large, complex sales of
timber from National Forest System
lands. The agency uses timber sale
contract Form FS–2400–6 when timber
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 146 (Monday, July 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43095-43096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12217]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0017]
Technical Service Center Operations
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice, request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reviewing the
organization, operations, and services provided by its Technical
Service Center (TSC) in Omaha, Nebraska, with the intent of improving
TSC programs that provide technical advice, guidance, and information
to FSIS personnel, the regulated industry, and the general public. FSIS
is particularly interested in improving TSC programs that assist small
businesses. FSIS seeks comment from the public as part of this effort
to improve TSC operations.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 30,
2006.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to
type short comments directly into the comment field on this web page or
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and, in the ``Search for Open Regulations'' box, select ``Food Safety
and Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down menu, then click on
``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select the FDMS Docket Number
FSIS-2006-0017 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting
and related materials available electronically. After the close of the
comment period, the docket can be viewed using the ``Advanced Search''
function in Regulations.gov.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-
delivered items: Send to Program Evaluation and Improvement Staff, Food
Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room
3833 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3700.
Electronic mail: fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.
All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket
number FSIS-2006-0017.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted to
the regulations.gov Web site and on the Agency's Web site at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_Notices_Index/
index.asp. The comments also will be available for public inspection in
the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Matthew Michael, Director, Program
Evaluation and Improvement Staff, Office of Program Evaluation,
Enforcement & Review, FSIS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 3833
South Building, 14th and Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-
3700; telephone (202) 720-6735; fax (202) 690-1030; e-mail:
matthew.michael@fsis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 1997, FSIS established the TSC to serve as a vital component in
implementing the Agency's science-based inspection system. As part of
the 1996 FSIS reorganization, the TSC was established to provide
frontline inspectors and supervisors consistent technical guidance and
expertise on the interpretation, enforcement, and application of
regulations, policies, and systems. FSIS' intent was to concentrate in
one location the technical expertise previously located in numerous
headquarters and field offices in order to provide comprehensive and
consistent technical advice quickly during the implementation of this
initiative. The center's creation was critical to the successful
implementation of the 1996 Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) systems regulation, which established new requirements for the
regulated industry and changed many of the tasks carried out by
inspectors.
In November 2004, FSIS asked the National Advisory Committee on
Meat and Poultry Inspection to provide input on how well the TSC is
functioning, and what the center should be doing in light of the fact
that HACCP implementation was complete. In its report to FSIS, NACMPI
fully supported the continuation of the center to provide technical
assistance to the Agency and the industry and made a number of
suggestions to improve the center's effectiveness, including improving
consistency of answers, compiling helpful resources for the industry,
and expanding formal correlation between FSIS and industry.
The TSC continues to assist the FSIS workforce, plant owners and
operators, state and foreign government officials, industry
representatives, and others by:
Providing technical advice, guidance, and information
related to the interpretation, application, implementation and
enforcement of regulations, policies and systems concerning meat and
poultry processing, slaughter, imports and egg products inspection
activities;
Contributing to the development of Agency policy on
various matters, particularly issues involving inspection at slaughter
and processing;
Correlating inspection procedures and requirements with
FSIS' Office of Field Operations personnel and industry;
[[Page 43096]]
Guiding the implementation of new and modified inspection
programs and procedures;
Interacting with other program areas to assure information
exchange and uniformity of regulatory issues within the Agency;
Working with the FSIS Center for Learning to develop and
deliver training;
Analyzing data in major Agency databases for recurring and
specific project requirements; and
Identifying emerging data analysis and management needs,
including developing, piloting, implementing, and maintaining databases
and reporting systems, and raising policy and program issues based on
that analysis.
Significantly, the TSC does not provide a forum for resolving
disputes between inspection personnel and plant management, nor does it
rule on appeals. This is a function of the chain of command and the
appeals process is described in 9 CFR 306.5. The role of the TSC is to
assist decision making by providing all parties with the standards and
other technical information needed to understand, implement, apply, and
enforce regulatory requirements. Two TSC staffs, both within the FSIS
Office of Policy, Program & Employee Development, provide the services
described above. The Technical Assistance/Correlation Staff (TAC)
provides technical expertise, guidance and correlation. The Program
Analysis Staff (PAS) conducts data analysis and special studies
concerning Agency program operations.
FSIS is now seeking broader input on the organization, operations,
and services provided by the TSC, with the intent of improving TSC
programs. As part of a comprehensive evaluation of TSC operations and
services, the Agency is seeking comments from the public and especially
from small businesses. Feedback from small businesses is being
requested specifically as a result of the Agency's initiative to
improve its outreach to small and very small plants to further improve
their food safety programs.
Questions
All relevant comments are welcome, but FSIS specifically seeks
responses from the regulated industry to the following questions:
In what way has the availability of TSC services helped
you with your operations?
When you have contacted the TSC, has the response been
prompt, clear, thorough, and courteous?
Is the technical guidance provided by the TSC consistent
with regulations and policy as written? Is the technical guidance
consistent with guidance given by FSIS inspection program personnel?
Have you used the TSC website? If so, has it been useful?
If you have contacted the TSC multiple times regarding the
same topic, has the guidance been consistent over time?
How could the TSC improve its services?
Have you had difficulty in reaching the TSC staff?
What recommendations do you have for TSC in communicating
information to you?
What specifically could the TSC do to improve its services
to small businesses?
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS web page located at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations/2006_Notices_Index/index.asp.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv,
a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and
farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals,
scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to
be included. The update also is available on the FSIS web page. Through
Listserv and the web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a
much broader, more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news
and information. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_and_events/email_subscription/ Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers
can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to
password protect their account.
Done at Washington, DC, on July 26, 2006.
Barbara J. Masters,
D.V.M. Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-12217 Filed 7-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
