Federal Register Notices
[Federal
Register: November 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number
212)]
[Notices]
[Page 57141-57142]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04no09-25]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of a Request for Revision of a
Currently Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's intention
to request a revision of a currently approved
information collection in support of the Dairy
Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing program.
DATES: Comments should be submitted no
later than January 4, 2010. Additional
Information and Comments: Contact Bettyann
Gonzales, Dairy Import Specialist, Office of
Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 1021,
Washington, DC 20250-1021, or by telephone at
(202) 720-1344.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota
Licensing Program.
OMB Number: 0551-0001.
Expiration Date of Approval: March 31,
2010.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved information collection.
Abstract: The currently approved
information collection supports the Dairy
Tariff-Rate Import Quota regulation (the
Regulation) (7 CFR 6.20-6.37) which governs the
administration of the import licensing system
applicable to most dairy products subject to
tariff-rate quotas (TRQs). The TRQs were
established in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTS) as a result of certain
provisions in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act
(Pub. L. 103-465) that converted existing
absolute quotas to TRQs. Imports of nearly all
cheese made from cow's milk (except soft-ripened
cheese such as Brie) and certain non-cheese
dairy products (including butter and dried milk)
are subject to TRQs and the Regulation. Licenses
are issued each quota year to eligible
applicants and are valid for 12 months (January
1 through December 31). Only licensees may enter
specified quantities of the subject dairy
articles at the applicable in-quota
tariff-rates. Importers who do not hold licenses
may enter dairy articles only at the over-quota
tariff-rates.
Each quota year, all applicants must submit
form FAS 923 (rev. 7-96). This form, available
online, requires applicants to: (1) Certify they
are either an importer, manufacturer, or
exporter of certain dairy products; (2) certify
they meet the eligibility requirements of Sec.
6.23 of the Regulation; and (3) submit
documentation required by Sec. 6.23 and Sec.
6.24 as proof of eligibility for import
licenses. Applicants for non-historical licenses
must also submit form FAS 923A (rev. 7-96)
(cheese) and/or FAS 923B (rev. 7-96) (non-cheese
dairy products). This form requires applicants
to request licenses in descending order of
preference for specific products and countries
listed on the form.
After licenses are issued, Sec. 6.26 requires
licensees to surrender by October 1 on form FAS
924A, License Surrender Form, any license amount
that a licensee does not intend to enter that
year. These amounts are reallocated, to the
extent practicable, to existing licensees for
the remainder of that year based on requests
submitted on form FAS 924B, Application for
Additional License Amounts. Form FAS 924A and
924B (one form) requires the licensee to
complete a table listing the surrendered amount
by license number, or listing the additional
amounts requested by dairy article, supplying
country and amount requested, in descending
order of preference.
The estimated total annual burden of 291
hours in the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) inventory for the currently approved
information collection will be increased by 168
hours to 459 hours. The public reporting burden
for this collection of currently approved forms
FAS 923, FAS 923A and 923B (one form) (rev.
7-96) is estimated to average 436 hours; and FAS
924A and 924B (one form) is 23 hours. The
estimated increase in burden hours is due to the
increased number of applications.
Estimate of burden: The average
burden, including the time for reviewing
instructions, gathering data needed, completing
forms, and record keeping is estimated at .75
hour for form FAS 923, 923-A, 923-B (rev. 7-96)
and .15 hour for form FAS 924A, 924B.
Respondents: Importers and
manufacturers of cheese and non-cheese dairy
products, and exporters of non-cheese dairy
products.
Estimated number of respondents: 550
for form FAS 923, 923A, 923B (rev. 7-96) and 150
for form FAS 924A, 924B (rev. 7-96).
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 459
hours.
Requests for Comments: Send comments
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond,
including through the use of automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques, or other forms of
information technology. Comments may be sent to
Bettyann Gonzales, Dairy Import Specialist,
Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1021, Washington,
DC 20250-1021, or by telephone at (202)
720-1344, or by e-mail
bettyann.gonzales@fas.usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities who require an
alternative means for communication of
information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). All responses to
this notice will be summarized and included in
the request for OMB approval. All comments also
will become a matter of public record.
FAS is committed to compliance with the
Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA),
which requires Government agencies, in general,
to provide the public the option of submitting
information or transacting business
electronically to the maximum extent possible.
Electronic submission of the information
collection was implemented on September 2005 in
compliance with the GPEA.
Signed at Washington, DC, on October 26,
2009.
Michael V. Michener,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. E9-26620 Filed 11-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
