Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection for the Federal Seed Act Program, 24554 [2016-09607]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 24554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09607]


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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 26, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 24554]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LPS-16-0016]


Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection for the Federal Seed Act Program

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. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension and revision to the 
currently approved information collection of the Federal Seed Act 
Labeling and Enforcement.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments should either be submitted electronically at 
www.regulations.gov, or to Ernest L. Allen, Director, Seed Regulatory 
and Testing Division (SRTD), Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, AMS, 
USDA, 801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite C, Gastonia, NC 28054-2193; or 
by facsimile to (704) 852-4109. All comments should reference docket 
number AMS-LPS-16-0016 and note the date and the page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be posted 
without change, including any personal information provided, online at 
https://www.regulations.gov and will be made available for public 
inspection at the above physical address during regular business hours.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ernest L. Allen, SRTD, Livestock, 
Poultry, and Seed Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (704) 810-8871, or 
Email: Ernest.Allen@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Federal Seed Act Program.
    OMB Number: 0581-0026.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2016.
    Type of Request: Request for extension of and revision of currently 
approved information collection.
    Abstract: This information collection and these recordkeeping 
requirements are necessary to conduct the Federal Seed Act (FSA) (7 
U.S.C. 1551 et seq.) program with respect to certain testing, labeling, 
and recordkeeping requirements for agricultural and vegetable seeds in 
interstate commerce. Regulations under the FSA are contained in 7 CFR 
part 201.
    The FSA, Title II, is a truth-in-labeling law that regulates 
agricultural and vegetable planting seed in interstate commerce. Seed 
subject to the FSA must be labeled with certain quality information and 
Title II requires that information to be truthful. The FSA prohibits 
the interstate shipment of falsely advertised seed and seed containing 
noxious-weed seeds that are prohibited from sale in the State into 
which the seed is being shipped.
    No unique forms are required for this information collection. The 
FSA requires seed in interstate commerce to be tested and labeled. Once 
seed enters a State, it must comply with the testing and labeling 
requirements of that State's seed law. The testing and labeling 
required by FSA nearly always satisfies the State's testing and 
labeling requirements. The receiving, sales, cleaning, testing, and 
labeling records required by FSA are also records that the shipper 
would normally keep in good business practice.
    The information in this collection is the minimum information 
necessary to effectively carry out the enforcement of FSA. With the 
exception of the requirements for entering a new variety into a State 
seed certification program (set forth separately below), the 
information collection is entirely recordkeeping rather than reporting.

Seed Testing, Labeling, and Recordkeeping

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.69 hours per response.
    Respondents: Interstate shippers and labelers of seed.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,157.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.25.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 10,260.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 27,600 hours.

Eligibility Requirements for Certification of New Varieties and 
Recordkeeping

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information (eligibility for certification of new varieties) is 
estimated to average 2.42 hours per response.
    Respondents: Entities seeking to enter new varieties into State 
seed certification programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 88.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 9.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 792.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,917 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) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    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.

    Dated: April 20, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09607 Filed 4-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P