Information Collection for National Science Laboratories, 61559 [2022-22137]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 61559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22137]


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 12, 2022 / 
Notices

[[Page 61559]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-ST-22-0060]


Information Collection for National Science Laboratories

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 approval, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
for a new information collection ``National Science Laboratories.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 12, 2022 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice by using the electronic process available at https://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the document number 
and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All 
comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted without 
change, including any personal information provided, at https://www.regulations.gov and will be included in the record and made 
available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Simonds, National Science 
Laboratories, Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, Science & 
Technology Program, 801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite B, Gastonia, NC 
28054; Phone: (704) 867-3873; or Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Agency: USDA, AMS.
    Title: National Science Laboratories.
    OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is necessary to conduct 
voluntary analytical testing on a fee-for-service basis. The 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), 
authorizes the Agricultural Marketing Service, AMS' National Science 
Laboratories (NSL) to provide chemical, microbiological, and bio-
molecular lab analytical testing services to facilitate domestic and 
international marketing of food and agricultural commodities. NSL is a 
fee-for-service lab network utilized by both industry and government 
and provides testing services for AMS commodity programs, other USDA 
agencies, Federal and State agencies, U.S. Military, research 
institutions, and private sector food and agricultural industries. 
Applicants voluntarily submit samples for analytical testing and pay 
testing fees. Regulations implementing the NSL program appear at 7 CFR 
part 91.
    The information collected is information needed to perform 
analytical testing, issue a certificate/report of analytical results, 
and collect payment for services requested by the applicant. This 
includes information about applicant's business, sample(s) submitted, 
and the required test(s). AMS will collect business information on form 
ST-1, Application for Service. The information requested will be used 
by the Administrative Officer to identify the applicant in the billing 
system, to set up an account in the billing system and contact the 
party responsible for payment of testing fee.
    Applicants, when submitting samples, provide sample information 
documentation needed to conduct analytical laboratory testing. This 
information can be submitted using documentation provided by the 
applicant or on form FRM-12, provided by NSL. Such information 
includes: Applicant contact information; Product description; Number of 
containers; Lot number or production date; Analyses requested; Any 
other information required by the applicant to be on the analytical 
certificate/report of analytical results. Information collection 
requirements in this request are essential to provide applicants with 
the service requested and administer the program.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.254 hours per response.
    Respondents: Food and Agricultural Businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,279.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 10,279.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.0.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2613.25 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 completion of analyses 
related documentation; (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.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-22137 Filed 10-11-22; 8:45 am]
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