Cotton Research and Promotion Program: Request for Comments To Be Used in a Review of 1990 Amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act, 11892-11893 [2017-03709]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 37 / Monday, February 27, 2017 / Notices
system of records containing privacy
information and will not ask questions
of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs,
and other matters that are commonly
considered private.
AMS currently has approval from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for this information collection.
This approval is for 60,000 burden
hours, based on our initial request to
OMB in April 2011. We are asking the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to approve our use of these
information collection activities for 3
years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit
comments from the public (as well as
affected agencies) concerning our
information collection. These comments
will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, through use, as
appropriate, of automated, electronic,
mechanical, and other collection
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average .50 hours per
response.
Respondents: Individuals and
households; businesses and
organizations; State, local, or Tribal
government.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 110,000.
Estimated Number of Responses:
110,000.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 60,000/(Due to averaging,
the total annual burden hours may not
equal the product of the annual number
of responses multiplied by the reporting
burden per response.)
Comments may be sent to [name and
address of AMS representative]. 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:23 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 241001
Dated: February 22, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03812 Filed 2–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[AMS–CN–16–0108]
Cotton Research and Promotion
Program: Request for Comments To
Be Used in a Review of 1990
Amendments to the Cotton Research
and Promotion Act
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
As provided for by the Cotton
Research and Promotion Act
Amendments of 1990, the Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing
its intention to conduct a review to
ascertain whether a referendum is
needed to determine whether producers
and importers favor continuation of
amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Order (Order). This notice
invites all interested parties to submit
written comments to the Department of
Agriculture (USDA). USDA will
consider these comments in
determining whether a referendum is
warranted.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received on
or before April 28, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
submitted to the addresses specified
below. All comments will be made
available to the public. Please do not
include personally identifiable
information (such as name, address, or
other contact information) or
confidential business information that
you do not want publically disclosed.
All comments may be posted on the
Internet and can be retrieved by most
Internet search engines. Comments may
be submitted anonymously.
Comments, identified by AMS–CN–
16–0108, may be submitted
electronically through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov. Please follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
In addition, comments may be
submitted by mail or hand delivery to
Cotton Research and Promotion, Cotton
and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100
Riverside Parkway, Suite 101,
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406. Written
comments should be submitted in
triplicate. All comments received will
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
be made available for public inspection
at Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS,
USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite
101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406. A
copy of this document may be found at:
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and
Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco
Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside
Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg,
Virginia 22406, telephone (540) 361–
2726, facsimile (540) 361–1199, or email
at Shethir.Riva@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Cotton Research and Promotion Act of
1966 (7 U.S.C. 2101–2118) authorized a
national Cotton Research and Promotion
Program which is industry operated and
funded, with oversight by USDA. The
program’s objective is to enable cotton
growers and importers to establish,
finance, and carry out a coordinated
program of research and promotion to
improve the competitive position of,
and to expand markets for cotton.
The program became effective on
December 31, 1966, when the Cotton
Research and Promotion Order (7 CFR
part 1205) was issued. Assessments
began with the 1967 cotton crop. The
Order was amended and a supplemental
assessment initiated, effective January
26, 1977.
The program is currently financed
through assessments levied on domestic
and imported cotton and cottoncontaining products. Assessments under
this program are used to fund
promotional campaigns and to conduct
research in the areas of U.S. marketing,
international marketing, cotton
production and processing, and textile
research and implementation.
The program is administered by the
Cotton Board, which has 37 members,
37 alternate members and four advisors.
The Cotton Board is composed of
representatives of cotton producers and
cotton importers, each of whom has an
alternate selected by the Secretary of
Agriculture from nominations submitted
by eligible producer and importer
organizations. All members and their
alternates serve terms of 3 years. The
Cotton Board’s responsibility is to
administer the provisions of the Cotton
Research and Promotion Order issued
pursuant to the Act. These
responsibilities include collecting,
holding and safeguarding funds; making
refunds when refunds are a provision of
the Order; contracting with an
organization for the development and
implementation of programs of research
and promotion; reviewing and making
recommendations to the Secretary of
Agriculture on proposed programs and
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
27FEN1
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 37 / Monday, February 27, 2017 / Notices
budgets; and making funds available for
such programs when approved. The
objective of the Cotton Research and
Promotion Program is to strengthen
cotton’s competitive position and to
maintain and expand domestic and
foreign markets and uses for cotton. The
Cotton Board is prohibited from
participating in any matters influencing
governmental policies or action except
making recommendations for
amendments to the Order.
Amendments to the Act were enacted
under subtitle G of title XIX of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–624, 104 Stat.
3909, November 28, 1990). These
amendments provided for: (1) Importer
representation on the Cotton Board; (2)
the assessment of imported cotton and
cotton products; (3) increasing the
amount the Secretary of Agriculture can
be reimbursed for conduct of a
referendum from $200,000 to $300,000;
(4) reimbursing government agencies
who assist in administering the
collection of assessments on imported
cotton and cotton products; and (5)
terminating the right of a producer to
demand a refund of assessments. The
Act Amendments of 1990 were
approved by a majority (60 percent) of
importers and producers of cotton
voting in a referendum conducted July
17–26, 1991, as required by the Act.
Results of this referendum were
announced in a nationally distributed
press release dated August 2, 1991.
The Cotton Research and Promotion
Act Amendment of 1990, Section 8(c)(1)
provides that once every 5 years after
the July 1991 referendum, the Secretary
of Agriculture is to conduct a review to
ascertain whether a referendum is
needed. In such a referendum,
producers and importers would
determine whether they favor
continuation of the amendments to the
Order provided for in the Cotton
Research and Promotion Act
Amendments of 1990. These
amendments to the Order were
promulgated in final rules published in
the Federal Register on December 10,
1991 (56 FR 64470), corrected at 56 FR
66670.
The results of the most recent review
report of the Cotton Research and
Promotion Program were issued on May
29, 2013. USDA announced its view (78
FR 32228) not to conduct a referendum
regarding the 1991 amendments to the
Order. In accordance with Section
8(c)(2) of the Act, USDA provided an
opportunity for all eligible persons to
request a continuance referendum on
the 1991 amendments by making such
a request during a sign-up period.
During the period of August 3–August
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:23 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 241001
14, 2015, the Department conducted a
sign-up period for all eligible persons to
request a continuance referendum on
the 1990 Act amendments. The
announced results of the sign-up period
(80 FR 76654) did not meet the criteria
established for a continuance
referendum by the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act and therefore, a
referendum was not conducted.
In 2017, in accordance with the
provisions of the Act, the Secretary of
Agriculture will conduct its review of
the Cotton Research and Promotion
Program Act amendments to ascertain
whether a referendum is needed to
determine whether producers and
importers support continuation of the
amendments to the Order, as provided
for by the 1990 Act amendments. The
Secretary of Agriculture will make a
public announcement of the results of
the review. Pursuant to the Act, if the
Secretary of Agriculture determines that
a referendum is needed, the Secretary of
Agriculture will conduct the
referendum within 12 months after a
public announcement of the
determination to conduct the
referendum.
If the Secretary determines that a
referendum is not warranted, a sign-up
period to request such a referendum
will be made available to cotton
producers and importers. A referendum
will be held if requested by 10 percent
or more of those voting in the most
recent referendum as long as not more
than 20 percent are from any one State
or importers of cotton. This sign-up
period would be announced in the
Federal Register. A 60-day comment
period is provided for interested
persons to provide comments to be used
by USDA in its review. All interested
persons are invited to submit written
comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101–2118.
Dated: February 21, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03709 Filed 2–24–17; 8:45 am]
11893
increase in the fiscal year (FY) 2017
specialty sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) of
40,000 metric tons raw value (MTRV).
DATES: Effective Date: February 27,
2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Souleymane Diaby, Import Policies and
Export Reporting Division, Foreign
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., AgStop 1021, Washington, DC
20250–1021; by telephone (202) 720–
2916; by fax (202) 720–0876; or by email
to Souleymane.Diaby@fas.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 6,
2016, USDA announced the
establishment of the in-quota quantity of
the FY 2017 refined sugar TRQ at
162,000 MTRV for which the sucrose
content, by weight in the dry state, must
have a polarimeter reading of 99.5
degrees or more (81 FR 27390, May 6,
2016). This amount included the
minimum level to which the United
States is committed under the WTO
Uruguay Round Agreements (22,000
MTRV of which 1,656 MTRV is reserved
for specialty sugar) and an additional
140,000 MTRV reserved for specialty
sugars.
Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 5 to
Chapter 17 of the U.S. Harmonized
Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Section 359k
of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of
1938, as amended, the Secretary today
increased the overall FY 2017 refined
sugar TRQ by 40,000 MTRV to 202,000
MTRV. The increased amount is
reserved for specialty sugar. Entry of
this sugar will be permitted beginning
March 1, 2017. The sugar entered under
this tariff-rate quota is reserved for
organic sugar and other specialty sugars
not currently produced commercially in
the United States or reasonably
available from domestic sources.
Dated: February 7, 2017.
Jason Hafemeister,
Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Farm and
Foreign Agricultural Services.
[FR Doc. 2017–03826 Filed 2–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–P
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Increase in Fiscal Year 2017 Specialty
Sugar Tariff-Rate Quota
Office of the Secretary, USDA.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Office of the Secretary of
the Department of Agriculture (the
Secretary) is providing notice of an
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
February 22, 2017.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments are
requested regarding (1) whether the
collection of information is necessary
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11892-11893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03709]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[AMS-CN-16-0108]
Cotton Research and Promotion Program: Request for Comments To Be
Used in a Review of 1990 Amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As provided for by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act
Amendments of 1990, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is
announcing its intention to conduct a review to ascertain whether a
referendum is needed to determine whether producers and importers favor
continuation of amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Order
(Order). This notice invites all interested parties to submit written
comments to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA will consider
these comments in determining whether a referendum is warranted.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 28, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to the addresses specified
below. All comments will be made available to the public. Please do not
include personally identifiable information (such as name, address, or
other contact information) or confidential business information that
you do not want publically disclosed. All comments may be posted on the
Internet and can be retrieved by most Internet search engines. Comments
may be submitted anonymously.
Comments, identified by AMS-CN-16-0108, may be submitted
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Please follow the instructions for submitting
comments. In addition, comments may be submitted by mail or hand
delivery to Cotton Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program,
AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia
22406. Written comments should be submitted in triplicate. All comments
received will be made available for public inspection at Cotton and
Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101,
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406. A copy of this document may be found
at: www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research
and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside
Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406, telephone (540)
361-2726, facsimile (540) 361-1199, or email at
Shethir.Riva@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cotton Research and Promotion Act of
1966 (7 U.S.C. 2101-2118) authorized a national Cotton Research and
Promotion Program which is industry operated and funded, with oversight
by USDA. The program's objective is to enable cotton growers and
importers to establish, finance, and carry out a coordinated program of
research and promotion to improve the competitive position of, and to
expand markets for cotton.
The program became effective on December 31, 1966, when the Cotton
Research and Promotion Order (7 CFR part 1205) was issued. Assessments
began with the 1967 cotton crop. The Order was amended and a
supplemental assessment initiated, effective January 26, 1977.
The program is currently financed through assessments levied on
domestic and imported cotton and cotton-containing products.
Assessments under this program are used to fund promotional campaigns
and to conduct research in the areas of U.S. marketing, international
marketing, cotton production and processing, and textile research and
implementation.
The program is administered by the Cotton Board, which has 37
members, 37 alternate members and four advisors. The Cotton Board is
composed of representatives of cotton producers and cotton importers,
each of whom has an alternate selected by the Secretary of Agriculture
from nominations submitted by eligible producer and importer
organizations. All members and their alternates serve terms of 3 years.
The Cotton Board's responsibility is to administer the provisions of
the Cotton Research and Promotion Order issued pursuant to the Act.
These responsibilities include collecting, holding and safeguarding
funds; making refunds when refunds are a provision of the Order;
contracting with an organization for the development and implementation
of programs of research and promotion; reviewing and making
recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on proposed programs
and
[[Page 11893]]
budgets; and making funds available for such programs when approved.
The objective of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program is to
strengthen cotton's competitive position and to maintain and expand
domestic and foreign markets and uses for cotton. The Cotton Board is
prohibited from participating in any matters influencing governmental
policies or action except making recommendations for amendments to the
Order.
Amendments to the Act were enacted under subtitle G of title XIX of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Pub. L.
101-624, 104 Stat. 3909, November 28, 1990). These amendments provided
for: (1) Importer representation on the Cotton Board; (2) the
assessment of imported cotton and cotton products; (3) increasing the
amount the Secretary of Agriculture can be reimbursed for conduct of a
referendum from $200,000 to $300,000; (4) reimbursing government
agencies who assist in administering the collection of assessments on
imported cotton and cotton products; and (5) terminating the right of a
producer to demand a refund of assessments. The Act Amendments of 1990
were approved by a majority (60 percent) of importers and producers of
cotton voting in a referendum conducted July 17-26, 1991, as required
by the Act. Results of this referendum were announced in a nationally
distributed press release dated August 2, 1991.
The Cotton Research and Promotion Act Amendment of 1990, Section
8(c)(1) provides that once every 5 years after the July 1991
referendum, the Secretary of Agriculture is to conduct a review to
ascertain whether a referendum is needed. In such a referendum,
producers and importers would determine whether they favor continuation
of the amendments to the Order provided for in the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act Amendments of 1990. These amendments to the Order were
promulgated in final rules published in the Federal Register on
December 10, 1991 (56 FR 64470), corrected at 56 FR 66670.
The results of the most recent review report of the Cotton Research
and Promotion Program were issued on May 29, 2013. USDA announced its
view (78 FR 32228) not to conduct a referendum regarding the 1991
amendments to the Order. In accordance with Section 8(c)(2) of the Act,
USDA provided an opportunity for all eligible persons to request a
continuance referendum on the 1991 amendments by making such a request
during a sign-up period. During the period of August 3-August 14, 2015,
the Department conducted a sign-up period for all eligible persons to
request a continuance referendum on the 1990 Act amendments. The
announced results of the sign-up period (80 FR 76654) did not meet the
criteria established for a continuance referendum by the Cotton
Research and Promotion Act and therefore, a referendum was not
conducted.
In 2017, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture will conduct its review of the Cotton Research
and Promotion Program Act amendments to ascertain whether a referendum
is needed to determine whether producers and importers support
continuation of the amendments to the Order, as provided for by the
1990 Act amendments. The Secretary of Agriculture will make a public
announcement of the results of the review. Pursuant to the Act, if the
Secretary of Agriculture determines that a referendum is needed, the
Secretary of Agriculture will conduct the referendum within 12 months
after a public announcement of the determination to conduct the
referendum.
If the Secretary determines that a referendum is not warranted, a
sign-up period to request such a referendum will be made available to
cotton producers and importers. A referendum will be held if requested
by 10 percent or more of those voting in the most recent referendum as
long as not more than 20 percent are from any one State or importers of
cotton. This sign-up period would be announced in the Federal Register.
A 60-day comment period is provided for interested persons to provide
comments to be used by USDA in its review. All interested persons are
invited to submit written comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101-2118.
Dated: February 21, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03709 Filed 2-24-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
