[Federal Register: April 14, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 73)]
[Notices]
[Page 20127-20129]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ap00-38]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 20127]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
April 10, 2000.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments
regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) 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 should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503 and to
Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington,
DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by
calling (202) 720-6746.
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.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration
Title: Survey of Customers of the Official Grain Inspection and
Weighing System.
OMB Control Number: 0580-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The United States Grain Standards Act, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 71-87) (USGSA), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of
1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA), authorize the Secretary of
the United States Department of Agriculture to establish official
inspection, grading, and weighing programs for grains and other
agricultural commodities. Under the USGSA and AMS, Grain Inspection,
Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA's) FGIS offers inspecting,
weighing, grading, quality assurance, and certification services for a
user-fee, to facilitate the efficient marketing of grain, oilseeds,
rice, lentils, dry peas, edible beans, and related agricultural
commodities in the global marketplace. The goal of FGIS and the
official inspection, grading, and weighing system is to provide timely,
high-quality, accurate, consistent, and professional service that
facilitates the orderly marketing of grain and related commodities.
FGIS will collect information using a survey.
Need and Use of the Information: FGIS will collect information to
determine where and to what extent services are satisfactory, and where
and to what extent they can be improved. The information will be shared
with other managers and program leaders who will be responsible for
making any necessary improvements at the office/agency, program, and
project level.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 1,874.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 313.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Title: Invitation for Applications of Interest to Sell Intermediary
Relending Program (IRP) Loans Under and Expended Pilot.
OMB Control Number: 0570-0036.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS)
will competitively select and authorize several intermediaries to sell
an aggregate amount of approximately $50 million of the existing IRP
portfolios in Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 based on selected criteria. In
order to evaluate the IRP applications from the intermediary and to
competitively select intermediaries to participate in the sale, certain
criteria must be established. This information is necessary to provide
the threshold to select those intermediaries to participate in the
expanded sale. Each intermediary will be asked to address the criteria
in the application submitted.
Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect the names,
addresses, contact person, telephone, fax numbers, and e-mail address.
The purpose of the information is to evaluate all applications received
to determine eligibility of the intermediary to participate in the
secondary market sale based on the criteria set forth. RBS will
evaluate each intermediary application based on the published criteria.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 4,308.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Specified Commodities Imported into the United States Exempt
from Import Requirements, 7 CFR Part 944, 980, and 999.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0167.
Summary of Collection: Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937
(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674) requires that whenever the
Secretary of Agriculture issues grade, size, quality, or maturity
regulations under domestic marketing orders for certain commodities,
the same or comparable regulations on imports of those commodities must
be issued. Import regulations apply only during those periods when
domestic marketing order regulations are in effect. No person may
import products for processing or other exempt purposes unless the
shipment is accompanied by an executed Importers Exempt Commodity Form
(FV-6). The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will collect
information using forms FV-6 and FV-7.
Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on
the
[[Page 20128]]
following: the product and the variety being imported; the date and
place of inspection; identifying marks or numbers on the containers;
identifying numbers on the railroad car; truck, or other transportation
vehicle transporting product to the receiver; the name, mailing
address, phone number, and fax number of the importer; the place and
date entry; the quantity imported; the name, mailing address, phone
number, and fax number of the intended receiver; intended use of the
exempt commodity; and the U.S. Customs Service entry number and
harmonized tariff code number.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 1,920.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,632.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR 1775, Technical Assistance Program.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0112.
Summary of Collection: Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (CONACT), 7 U.S.C. 1926, authorizes Rural
Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans and grants to public agencies,
American Indian tribes, and nonprofit corporations. The loans and
grants fund the development of drinking water, wastewater, and solid
waste disposal facilities in rural areas with populations of up to
10,000 residents. Nonprofit organizations receive Technical Assistance
and Training (TAT) and Solid Waste Management (SWM) grants to help
small rural communities or areas identify and solve problems relating
to community drinking water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal
systems. The technical assistance is intended to improve the management
and operation of the systems and reduce or eliminate pollution of water
resources.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
determine applicant eligibility, project feasibility, and the
applicant's ability to meet the grant and regulatory requirements. RUS
will review the information, evaluate it, and, if the applicant and
project are eligible for further competition, invite the applicant to
submit a formal application. Failure to collect proper information
could result in improper determinations of eligibility, improper use of
funds, or hindrances in making grants authorized by the TAT and SWM
program.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 80.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly;
Total Burden Hours: 4,168.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR 1744-C, Advance and Disbursement of Funds--
Telecommunications.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0023.
Summary of Collection: Section 201 of the Rural Electrification Act
(RE Act) of 1936 authorizes the Administrator of the Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) to make loans for the purpose of providing telephone
service to the widest practicable number of rural subscribers. RUS Form
481, ``Financial Requirement Statement,'' must be submitted by the
borrower to request loan advances. RUS Form 81 is prepared and
submitted to RUS by a borrower in order to have approved loan funds
advanced.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information about
the description of the advance desired; backup documentation relating
to transactions listed on the Form 481; and verification that the funds
advanced are related directly to loan purposes. If the information were
not collected RUS would not have any control over how loan funds are
spent or a record of the balance to be advanced.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 645.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 2,893.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR Part 1703-H, Deferments of RUS Loan Payments for Rural
Development Projects.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0097.
Summary of Collection: Subsection (b) of section 12 of the Rural
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 912), a
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telephone borrower may defer
the payment of principal and interest on any insured or direct loan
made under the RE Act invest the deferred amounts in rural development
projects. The Deferment program is used to encourage borrowers to
invest in and promote rural development and rural job creation projects
that are based on sound economic and financial analyses.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
determine eligibility; specific purposes for which the deferment amount
will be utilized; the term of the deferment the borrower will receive;
the cost of the total project and degree of participation in the
financing from other sources; verification that the purposes will not
violate limitations established in 7 CFR 1703-H. If the information
were not collected, RUS would be unable to determine eligibility for a
project.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit; business or other for-
profit.
Number of Respondents: 4.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 140.
Forest Service
Title: Forest Industries Data Collection System.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0010.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Range Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Research Act of 1978 requires the Forest Service (FS) to evaluate
trends in the use of logs and wood chips, to forecast anticipated
levels of logs and wood chips, and to analyze changes in the harvest of
the resources. Forest product and other wood-using industries are
important to state, regional, and national economies. In most southern
states, the value of rounded timber products is ranked either first or
second in relation to other major agricultural crop. The importance and
value of the timber products industry is significant in other regions
of the United States as well. The FS will collect information using
questionnaires.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to
monitor the types, species, volumes, sources, and prices of the timber
products harvested throughout the Nation. The data will be used to
develop specific economic development plans for new forest-related
industry in a State and to assist existing industry in identifying raw
material problems and opportunities. If the information were not
collected, data would not be available for sub-state, state, regional,
and national policy makers and program developers to make decisions
related to the forestland on a scientific basis.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 2,909.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 2,369.
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Poultry Imports and Export.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0141.
Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. authorizes sections 111,
114, 114a, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134c, 134f, and 134g of 21
U.S.C. These authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and
eliminate domestic diseases such as brucellosis, as well as
[[Page 20129]]
to take actions to prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as exotic
Newcastle disease and other foreign diseases. Disease prevention is the
most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and
enhancing the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability
to compete in exporting animals and animal products. A Final rule was
published on July 19, 1999, that allow the importation of poultry
carcasses from regions of the world where exotic Newcastle disease
(END) exists, provided the carcasses did not originate in these
regions, and provided the carcasses are processed and shipped according
to APHIS requirements. APHIS will collect information using a
certificate of origin, serial numbers, records that must be maintain
for 2 years and a cooperative service agreement that must be signed.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to
ensure that imported poultry carcasses pose a negligible risk of
introducing END into the United States.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Responses: 4.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting; On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 30.
William McAndrew,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-9346 Filed 4-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 2000/05/18 EST