Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Assessment Exemption for Organic Commodities, 67331-67332 [2013-26946]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67331-67332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26946]


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2013 / 
Notices

[[Page 67331]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-FV-13-0063; FV13-900-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Assessment Exemption for Organic Commodities

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 (44 
U.S.C. 3501), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (``AMS'') intention to request an extension for the forms 
currently used by marketers to apply for exemption from market 
promotion assessments under 22 marketing order programs.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 13, 2014.
    Additional Information: Contact Andrew Hatch, Supervisory Marketing 
Specialist, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406-
S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 720-2491, Email: 
andrew.hatch@ams.usda.gov.
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Jeffrey Smutny, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Stop 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 690-3919; 
or Email: jeffrey.smutny@ams.usda.gov.
    Comments: Comments are welcome and should reference the docket 
number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register, as well as the appropriate Marketing Order number. Comments 
may be submitted by mail to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406-
S, Washington, DC 20250-0237, or online at www.regulations.gov. All 
comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office 
of the Docket Clerk during regular USDA business hours, or they can be 
viewed at www.regulations.gov.
    All comments to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Organic Handler Market Promotion 
Assessment Exemption under 26 Federal Marketing Orders.
    OMB Number: 0581-0216.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently-approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Marketing Order (``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), 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 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7201) was amended by the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act (7 U.S.C. 7901), 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 
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; 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 Fruit and Vegetable Programs' regional and headquarters staff, 
who are the secondary users of the information.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Respondents are eligible certified organic handlers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 55.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 55.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 28 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information

[[Page 67332]]

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, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: November 5, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-26946 Filed 11-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P