Justification for change

Justification of Change Worksheet

Marketing Order for California Almonds (7 CFR Part 981)

Vegetable and Specialty Crops

OMB No. 0581-0178

February 2022

This Justification for Change seeks OMB’s approval on modification to the Statement of Intent form that is contained in the currently approved Credit-Back Guide (no form number) and is part of California Almonds Marketing Order No.981 (7 CFR part 981). The Almond Board of California (Board) uses the following form to locally administer the Federal marketing order that regulates the handling of almonds grown in California under the Agricultural Marketing Service’s oversight.

This form is necessary to administer the Credit-Back provisions as established in § 981.441 of the marketing order’s requirements. A proposed rule to be published in the Federal Register would change the number of days that the applicant is afforded to submit all necessary paperwork to the Board for proper evaluation of their Credit-Back claim from 76 days to 60 days. The Credit-Back Statement of Intent form included in the Credit-Back Guide would be changed accordingly. Specifically, the number of days afforded for submission at the bottom of page 25 would be changed from 76 to 60 days and the corresponding date from October 15 to September 30. The submission date at the top of page 26 would be also changed from October 15 to September 30.

The current burden calculated for the Credit-Back Guide is 5 hours. The changes on this form will not affect the burden hours for the handlers since the changes are independent of handlers’ efforts required to complete the forms.