Tobacco Inspection and Grading Services: Notice of Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 24968 [2023-08660]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 24968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08660]


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 25, 2023 / 
Notices

[[Page 24968]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TB-23-0022]


Tobacco Inspection and Grading Services: Notice of Request for an 
Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection

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 for an 
extension to the currently approved information collection in support 
of the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004, the Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administrative, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act for 2002 (Appropriations Act), and the Tobacco 
Inspection Act and Regulations Governing the Tobacco Standards.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 23, 2023 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 the page number of this issue of the Federal Register. 
Written comments may be submitted via mail to Shethir M. Riva, 
Director, Research and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, 
USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406. 
All comments received 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. Please do 
not include personally identifiable information (such as name, address, 
or other contact information) or confidential business information that 
you do not want publicly disclosed. Comments may be submitted 
anonymously.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research 
and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, Telephone (540) 361-2726 or 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Reporting and Recording Requirements for 7 CFR part 29.
    OMB Number: 0581-0056.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2023.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511-511s) requires 
that all tobacco sold at designated auction markets in the U.S. be 
inspected and graded. The Appropriations Act (7 U.S.C. 511s note) 
requires that all tobacco eligible for price support in the U.S. be 
inspected and graded. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 
(7 U.S.C. 518-519a) eliminated price supports and marketing quotas for 
all tobacco beginning with the 2005 crop year. Mandatory inspection and 
grading of domestic and imported tobacco was eliminated as well as the 
mandatory pesticide testing of imported tobacco and the tobacco market 
news program. The Tobacco Inspection Act also provides for interested 
parties to request inspection, pesticide testing, and grading services 
on a permissive basis. The information collection requirements 
authorized for the programs under the Tobacco Inspection Act and the 
Appropriations Act include: application for inspection of tobacco, 
application and other information used in the approval of new auction 
markets or the extension of services to designated tobacco markets, and 
the information required to be provided in connection with auction and 
nonauction sales.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.60 hours per response.
    Respondents: Primarily tobacco companies, tobacco manufacturers, 
import inspectors, and small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 48.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 2,415.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,651.
    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.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-08660 Filed 4-24-23; 8:45 am]
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