[Federal Register: September 25, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 186)]
[Notices]
[Page 57589-57591]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25se00-30]
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[[Page 57589]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
September 19, 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.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: RUS Form 444, ``Wholesale Power Contracts.''
OMB Control Number: 0572-0089.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE
Act) as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., authorizes the Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) to make and guarantee loans that will enable rural
consumers to obtain electric power. Rural consumers formed non-profit
electric distribution cooperatives. Subsequently, groups of these
distribution cooperatives banded together to form Generation and
Transmission cooperatives (G&T's) that generate or purchase power and
transmit the power to the distribution systems. All RUS and G&T
borrowers will enter into a Wholesale Power Contract with their
distribution members by using RUS Form 444.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
improve the credit quality and credit worthiness of loans and loan
guarantees to G&T borrowers to fulfill the purposes of the RE Act.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 110.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 660.
Forest Service
Title: Recreation Fee Permit and Envelope Registration Card.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0019.
Summary of Collection: The Organic Administration Act (30 stat.
11), the Wilderness Act (78 stat. 890), the Wild and Scenic River Act
(82 stat. 906) and Executive Order 11664, all authorize the Forest
Service (FS) to manage the forests to benefit both land and people.
Every year million of people visit the National Forest System. As FS
heads into the next millennium, their challenge is to meet a soaring
demand for higher quality recreation experiences while safeguarding the
health of the land. FS will care for the land and serve people is to
determine where people are going when they visit the national forest
and give them information, which provides for a safe and enjoyable
visit and at the same time protects the resource. The Visitors Permit
and Visitor Registration Card are tools that will help FS meet their
objective. At the majority of locations visited, a permit for use is
required. The FS uses the Visitor's Permit (Form 2300-30) and the
Visitor Registration Card (Form 2300-32) to permit use in these areas.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect the visitor's
name, address, area to be visited, date of visit, length of stay,
method of travel, number of people, and number of pack and saddle
stock. The permit and registration card allows managers to identify
areas, which are being heavily used and is also used to locate forest
visitors if they do not return from their trip as planned. If the
information were not collected from visitors it could cause overuse and
site deterioration in some environmentally sensitive areas.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or
other for-profit; Not-for profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 320,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (per visit).
Total Burden Hours: 26,000.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Cranberries grown in the states of MA, RI, CT, NJ, WI, MN,
MI, OR, WA, and Long Island in the State of NY, Marketing Order No.
929.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0103.
Summary of Collection: Marketing Order No. 929 (7 CFR Part 929)
regulates the handling of cranberries grown in certain states and
emanates from enabling legislation (the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, Secs. 1-19, 48 Stat. 31, as amended; 7 U.S.C.
601-674). The Act was designed to permit regulation of certain
agricultural commodities for the purpose of providing orderly marketing
conditions in interstate commerce and improving returns to growers. The
objective of the marketing agreement and order is to correlate the
supply of cranberries available for sale in the various trade channels
with the demand in those outlets.
Need and Use of the Information: The Cranberry Marketing Committee
locally administers the order and represents growers. The committee and
its staff are responsible for keeping information on individual
handlers inventories and receipt confidential. Information gathered by
the committee would only be reported in the aggregate, along with
[[Page 57590]]
other pertinent cranberry data. AMS will collect information using
various forms that ensure compliance and help monitor grower's
allotments. If information were not collected, it would eliminate data
needed to keep the cranberry industry and the Secretary abreast of
changes at the State and local level.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; Farms.
Number of Respondents: 1,285.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly and
Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 1,750.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Regulations for Cooperative Marketing Associations, 7 CFR
Part 1425.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0040.
Summary of Collection: The Secretary of Agriculture and Commodity
Credit Corporation (CCC) have authority to make Price Support available
to Cooperatives on behalf of their members through both commodity
statutes and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. Various
forms are used to collect information along with the cooperative
eligibility requirements that form the basis for information
collections. These requirements are needed to insure price support
programs' integrity. Cooperative Marketing Association (CMA) is an
entity through which benefits of commodity loan and loan deficiency
payment (LDP) programs flow to eligible producers. The responsibilities
of the CCC are to stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices
to aid in the orderly marketing of farm commodities. Commodities
authorized for price support through approved Cooperative Marketing
Associations (CMA's) include barley, corn, cotton, crambe, oats,
oilseeds, rice, sorghum and wheat.
Need and Use of the Information: The information requested is
needed to administer the CCC's Cooperative Marketing Association
Program. CCC approves CMA's participation in the commodity loan and LDP
program, and monitors them based on eligibility requirements. This is
to ensure that commodity loan and LDP proceeds go only to eligible
producers. The consequence of not obtaining this information could lead
to ineligible producers sharing the benefits of commodity loans and
LDP's with eligible producers. In this environment, pseudo and bogus
cooperatives could take advantage of program benefits such as interim
financing, marketing gains, and forfeiture provisions.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farms;
Business or other for profit.
Number of Respondents: 380.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On Occasion,
Annually; Other (as requested).
Total Burden Hours: 25,946.
Forest Service
Title: Application for Prospecting Permit.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0089.
Summary of Collection: The Application for Prospecting Permit, Form
FS-2800-14, was developed by Region 1, Forest Service (FS) to obtain
better information from applicants requesting permits to conduct
geophysical activities on National Forest System lands. These
activities are authorized according to 36 CFR Subpart E 228.100 and
228.101 for operations on a lease, 36 CFR 251 Subpart B for operations
off a lease, and 36 CFR 251.15 for operations on reserved mineral
rights. Geophysical operations are conducted to better understand the
earth's geology and mineral resources. Use of the form will ensure that
a complete, concise, site-specific, description of all proposed
geophysical activity be obtained. It will ensure timely and effective
review and decision-making in compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4521-4347).
Need and Use of the Information: FS collects the name, address, and
company project name of the applicant and similar information about the
geophysical contractor. The information is used by FS to ensure a
thorough, accurate, and timely review of the proposed geophysical
activity. If complete and accurate information is not collected the
environmental analysis and related NEPA documents may be incomplete;
permit issuance may be delayed; and, recordkeeping may be incomplete.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Non-for-
profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 25.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 6.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: 7 CFR Part 220 School Breakfast Program.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0012.
Summary of Collection: Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act (CNA)
of 1966, as amended, authorizes the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the School Breakfast
Program on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture so that needy
children may receive their breakfasts free or at a reduced price. The
requirements for the interim rule entitled, Identification of Blended
Beef, Pork, Poultry or Seafood Products are found in section 210.10(h)
of the National School Lunch Program regulations. The third party
disclosure requires school food authorities to inform children and
their parents of the use of products or dishes containing more than 30
parts fully hydrated vegetable protein products to less than 70 parts
beef, pork, poultry or seafood in food served under the SBP.
Need and Use of the Information: School food authorities provide
information to State agencies. The State agencies reprot to FNS. FNS
uses the information submitted to determine the amount of funds to be
reimbursed, evaluate and adjust program operations, and to develop
projections for future program operations.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government,
Individuals or household, Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit
institutions, Federal Government.
Number of Respondents: 82,748.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Quarterly; Monthly; Semi-annually; Annually; Other.
Total Burden Hours: 4,895,796.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: National School Lunch Program.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0006.
Summary of Collection: Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act
(NSLA) gives the Secretary authority to prescribe the minimum
nutritional requirements for lunches served by school participating in
the school lunch program. The requirements for the interim rule
entitled, Identification of Blended Beef, Pork, Poultry or Seafood
Products are found in section 210.10 (h) of the National School Lunch
Program regulations. The third party disclosure requires school food
authorities to inform children and their parents of the use of products
or dishes containing more than 30 parts fully hydrated vegetable
protein products to less than 70 parts beef, pork, poultry or seafood
in food served under the NSLP. The Food and Nutrition Service will
collect information using forms FNS-66, 640, and 67.
Need and Use of the Information: The information will be collected
to ensure that the alternative implemented by the States and the school
food authorities adequately meets program requirements and goals. The
plan will also ensure a
[[Page 57591]]
comprehensive review and will be available for monitoring purposes.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government,
Individuals or household, Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit
institutions, Federal Govenrment.
Number of Respondents: 118,051.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Quarterly; Monthly; Annually; Semi-annually; Other.
Total Burden Hours: 9,462,622.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: National Agricultural Pest Information System.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0010.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from
entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests not widely
distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests
when eradication is feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the Federal
Plant Pest Act authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. The
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has joined forces
with the States to create a program called the Cooperative Agricultural
Pest Survey. The program allows the States and the Plant Protection and
Quarantine (PPQ) Division to conduct surveys to detect and measure the
presence of imported plant pests and to input survey data into a
national computer-based system (called the National Agricultural Plant
Information System). APHIS will collect information using PPQ Form 391
and a survey.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to
predict potential pest situations, to promptly detect and respond to
the occurrence of new pests, and to record the location of those pest
incursions that could directly hinder the export of U.S. farm
commodities. If the information were not collected, it would seriously
affect APHIS ability to timely assist farmers, State personnel, and
others involved in agriculture to plan pest control measures, detect
new outbreaks, and to determine the threat posed by migratory pests.
Description of Respondents: Government.
Number of Respondents: 150.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,445.
Economic Research Service
Title: Study of Program Access and Declining Food Stamp
Participation.
OMB Control Number: 0536-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the responsibility to provide
social and economic intelligence on consumer, food marketing, and rural
issues, including: Domestic food assistance programs; low-income
assistance programs; food security status of the poor; food consumption
determinants and trends; consumer demand for food quality, safety, and
nutrition; food market competition and coordination; and food safety
regulations. The Food Stamp Program (FSP) is the cornerstone of the
Nation's nutrition safety net for low-income Americans. The program's
intent is to eliminate hunger and enable eligible low-income persons to
obtain a more nutritionally adequate diet by providing food stamp
coupons (or other forms of payment) redeemable at many retail food
stores. USDA is concerned about the declines in Food Stamp Program
participation that have occurred since 1994, and whether or not the
program is reaching all those in need. In an effort to better
understand the factors affecting Food Stamp Program participants, the
ERS will launch a study. The evaluation is being performed pursuant to
Public Law 95-73, which authorizes USDA to undertake research.
Need and Use of the Information: ERS will collect information to
describe the policies and practices in local food stamp offices,
particularly those instituted since welfare reform, that may affect
accessibility to the FSP; to examine how local policies and practices
affect households' decisions to apply for food stamps and their
decisions to continue to receive food stamps; and to examine the reason
eligible households do not participate in the FSP.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 37,278.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
Total Burden Hours: 5,110.5.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Certified Mediation Program.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0165.
Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is amending
its Agricultural Loan Mediation (AMP) regulations to implement the
requirements of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (the 1994 Act). P.L. 103-354,
October 13, 1994, amended Section 501 of the Agricultural Credit Act of
1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101 by striking ``an agricultural loan mediation
program'' and inserting ``a mediation program''. The regulation
provides a mechanism to States to apply for and obtain matching funds
grants from USDA. The grant funds help states supplement administrative
operating funds needed to administer their agricultural mediation
programs. FSA will collect information by mail, phone, fax, and in
person.
Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to
ensure matching grant funds are used only to pay for eligible costs
necessary for the operation and administration of the State mediation
programs, consistent with the statutory purposes of the program. If
information were not collected, this would result in improper
administration and appropriation of Federal grant funds.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 25.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 775.
Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-24563 Filed 9-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
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