Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 67057-67058 [2024-18505]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67057-67058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18505]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 160 / Monday, August 19, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 67057]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and approval 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding: 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; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received by September 18, 2024. Written comments and recommendations 
for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 
days of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Laboratory Approval Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0251.
    Summary of Collection: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), The Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) administers programs that create domestic and 
international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, 
fiber, and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agricultural industry 
with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of 
wholesome food for consumers across the country and around the world. 
AMS' Science & Technology Program (S&T) provides scientific, 
certification and analytical services to the agricultural community to 
improve the quality, wholesomeness, and marketing of agricultural 
products domestically and internationally. S&T provides support to USDA 
Agencies, Federal and State agencies, and private sector food and 
agricultural industries.
    Need and Use of the Information: This information can be provided 
on documentation from the applicant or by using ST-2 or ST-3, provided 
by NSL. Each sample must be identified with the name of applicant, 
billing information, product type (sample description), lot number of 
production date, analyses desired, and any other information which is 
required by the applicant to be included on the certificate/report. The 
information is used to perform chemical, microbiological, and bio-
molecular analyses on food and agricultural commodities and provide an 
analytical certificate/report of the results.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 3,620.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; Monthly; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,025.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Generic Information Collection and Clearance of Qualitative 
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0269.
    Summary of Collection: Executive Order 12862 directs Federal 
agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the 
best service available in the private sector. Improving Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) programs requires ongoing assessment of service 
delivery, by which we mean systematic review of the operation of a 
program compared to a set of explicit or implicit standards, as a means 
of contributing to the continuous improvement of the program.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collection 
activity will garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in 
an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration's 
commitment to improving service delivery. By qualitative feedback we 
mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and 
opinions but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative 
results that can be generalized to the population of study. This 
feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder 
perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of 
issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, 
training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or 
services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and 
actionable communications between AMS and its customers and 
stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the 
improvement of program management.
    Feedback collected under this generic clearance will provide useful 
information, but it will not yield data that can be generalized to the 
overall population. This type of generic clearance for qualitative 
information will not be used for quantitative information collections 
that are designed to yield reliably actionable results, such as 
monitoring trends over time or documenting program performance. Such 
data uses require more rigorous designs that address: the target 
population to which generalizations will be made, the sampling frame, 
the sample design (including stratification and clustering), the 
precision requirements or power calculations that justify the proposed 
sample size, the expected response rate, methods for assessing 
potential non-response bias, the protocols for data collection, and any 
testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior fielding the 
study. Depending on the degree of influence the results are likely to 
have, such collections may still be

[[Page 67058]]

eligible for submission for other generic mechanisms that are designed 
to yield quantitative results.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit; 
Not-for-profit Institutions and State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 100,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 50,000.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-18505 Filed 8-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P