[Federal Register: December 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 247)]
[Notices]
[Page 66392-66395]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26de01-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
December 17, 2001.
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 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.
National Agriculture Statistics Service
Title: Childhood Injury and Adult Occupational Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0535-0235.
Summary of Collection: Primary function of the National
Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS) is to prepare and issue State
and national estimates of crop and livestock production under the
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authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204 (a). NASS has been asked by the National
Institute of Occupational Safety Health (NIOSH) to conduct a childhood
injury and adult occupational injury survey. The survey is designed to
provide estimates of childhood nonfatal injury incidence and
description of injury occurring to children less than 20 years of age
who reside, work, or visit farms and describe the occupational injury
experience of all farm operators.
Need and Use of the Information: Data from this survey will provide
source of consistent information that NIOSH can use to target funds
appropriated by Congress for the prevention of childhood agricultural
injuries and adult occupational injuries. No source of data on
childhood injuries or adult occupational farm injuries exists that
covers all aspects of the agricultural production sector.
Description of Respondents: Farms.
Number of Respondents: 60,500.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other.
Total Burden Hours: 12,612.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR Part 1744, Subpart B, Lien Accommodations and
Subordination Policy.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0126.
Summary of Collection: Recent changes in the telecommunications
industry, including deregulation and technological developments, have
caused Rural Utilities Service (RUS) borrowers and other organizations
providing telecommunications services to consider undertaking projects
that provide new telecommunications services and other
telecommunications services not ordinarily financed by RUS. To
facilitate the financing of those projects and services, RUS is willing
to consider accommodating the Government's lien on telecommunications
borrowers' systems in an expedited manner based on the financial
strength of the borrowers operations. The RUS telecommunications
program provides loans to borrowers at interest rates and on terms that
are most favorable than those generally available from the private
sector.
Need and Use of the Information: Depending on the purposes for
which a lien accommodation is sought, RUS will use the information to
provide ``automatic'' approval for borrowers that meet the financial
tests. These tests are designed to ensure that the financial strength
of the borrowers is more than sufficient to protect the government's
loan security interests; hence, the lien accommodations will not
adversely affect the government's financial interests.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not for-
profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 30.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 23.
Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service
Title: National Animal Health Monitoring System Sheep 2001 Study.
OMB Control Number: 0579-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture is responsible
for protecting the health of our Nation's livestock and poultry
populations by preventing the introduction and interstate spread of
contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases of livestock and
poultry and for eradicating such diseases from the United States when
feasible. In connection with this mission, the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) operates the National Health Monitoring
System (NAHMS), which collects, on a national basis, statistically
valid and scientifically sound data on the prevalence and economic
importance of livestock and poultry diseases. NAHMS will initiate the
first national data collection for sheep through a national study,
Sheep 2001. The study will take place in 22 States, which represent
88.8% of the U.S. sheep population. Collection and dissemination of
animal and poultry health information is mandated by 7 U.S.C. 391, The
Animal Industry Act of 1884 and 21 U.S.C. 19, ``Agents to Examine and
Report on Methods of Treatment of Animals, and Means for Suppression of
Diseases,'' amended February 7, 1928.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will use the data collected
to: (1) Predict or detect national and regional trends in disease
emergence and movement, (2) address emerging issues, (3) determine the
economic consequences of disease, and (4) develop trade strategies and
support trade decisions. Without the data, the U.S.' ability to detect
trends in management, production, and health status that increase/
decrease farm economy, either directly or indirectly, would be reduced
or nonexistent.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for profit;
Individuals or households; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 10,731.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 9,090.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Filberts/Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and Washington.
OMB Control Number: 0581-NEW.
Summary of Collection: Marketing Order No. 982 (7 CFR Part 982),
covers filberts/hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington. This
legislation 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 order was
developed to stabilize marketing conditions for domestic inshell
hazelnuts.
Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will
provide the Board with more accurate information on the total supply of
hazelnuts handled in Oregon and Washington. This will facilitate the
Boards preparation of its annual marketing policy. Reports and forms
are periodically reviewed to avoid duplication of information collected
by industry and public sector agencies. No similar information is
collected from any other organizations. Collecting data less frequently
would eliminate data needed to keep the hazelnut industry and USDA
abreast of changes at the State and local levels.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
Number of Respondents: 5.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 2.
Forest Service
Title: National Woodland Owner Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0078.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-278) and the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 307) are the legal authorities
for conducting the National Woodland Owner Survey. The National
Woodland Owner Survey collects information to help answer questions
related to the characteristics of the landholdings and landowners,
ownership objectives, the supply of timber and non-timber products,
forest management practices, delivery of the concerns/constraints
perceived by the landowners.
Need and Use of the Information: The Forest Service will collect
information to determine the opportunities and constraints that private
woodlands owners typically face and facilitate planning and
implementing forest policies and programs. If the information is not
collected, the knowledge and understanding of private
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woodland ownerships and their concerns and activities will be severely
limited.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 10,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (every 5 years).
Total Burden Hours: 2,500.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: Wildlife Damage Surveys.
OMB Control Number: 0535-0217.
Summary of Collection: The primary objectives of the National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are to provide, prepare and
issue current official State and national estimates of crop and
livestock production, disposition, and prices. Auxiliary services, such
as statistical consultation, data collection, summary tabulation, and
analysis are performed for other federal and State agencies on a
reimbursable basis. NASS has entered into an agreement with the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to conduct a nationwide
survey of selected field crop, livestock, poultry, vegetable, fruit,
and nut producers to assess the true incidence, extent, specific cause,
and monetary value of agricultural product and resource losses caused
by vertebrate wildlife.
Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on
the development of valid statistical data reflecting the percentage of
fruit, nut, and berry growers experiencing losses of products or
resources and the total dollar losses at the national level caused by
vertebrate wildlife. Goals of the survey are to assess the agricultural
community's use and name recognition of the Wildlife Service program at
a regional level, and provide accurate measurement of wildlife damage
to agricultural products for use in long range planning and fund
allocation.
Description of Respondents: Farms.
Number of Respondents: 12,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 1,700.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Certification of Livestock Losses for Eligible Disaster.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0179.
Summary of Collection: Under P.L. 106-387, Sec. 813 states ``The
Secretary shall use up to $10,000,000 of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation to make livestock indemnity payment to producers on
a farm that have incurred livestock losses during calendar year 2000
due to a disaster, as determined by the Secretary, including losses due
to fires and anthrax. Over the past several years, Congress has
provided ad hoc funding under several appropriation bills to partially
compensate producers who lost livestock because of natural disasters.
Producer requesting compensation on CCC-661, Certificate of Livestock
Losses for eligible Disaster must provide documentation that shows the
number of type of livestock lost in the disaster.
Need and Use of the Information: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will
collect information to determine eligibility and the amount of
compensation. Without obtaining the information from the producers, FSA
could not carry out the statutory provisions and ensure that funds are
being provided to eligible producers.
Description of Respondents: Farms.
Number of Respondents: 2,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 5,000.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Food Stamp Redemption Certificate.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0085.
Summary of Collection: The Food Stamp Act of 1977, requires the
Department of Agriculture to issue regulations that provide for the
redemption of coupons accepted by retail food stores through approved
wholesale food concerns or through insured financial institutions. The
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will provide authorized retail stores
and wholesale food concerns with redemption certificates. The
Redemption Certificate and Wholesaler Redemption Certificate (RCs) are
used by all authorized wholesalers or retailers when depositing food
stamp coupons, and are processed by financial institutions when they
are presented for credit or for cash. The issuance of food stamp
benefits through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system is
replacing the issuance of food coupons.
Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) will collect information on the verification of the amount of
coupons forwarded to the bank for redemption. RCs are distributed to
each authorized retailer or wholesaler by FNS for completion. FNS uses
the deposit information from the RC to monitor (1) deposits by retailer
and wholesale food concerns, and (2) for store monitoring and
compliance purposes.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 155,584.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 135,947.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: WIC Local Agency Directory Report.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0431.
Summary of Collection: The Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is authorized by Section 17 of the
Child Nutrition Act (CAN) of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786, as amended. The Food
and Nutrition Service (FNS) of USDA administers the WIC Program by
awarding cash grants to State agencies (generally State health
departments). The State agencies award subgrants to local agencies
(generally local health departments and nonprofit organizations) to
deliver program benefits and services to eligible participants. Local
agencies authorized to furnish WIC participants with supplemental
foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support
activities and referral to related health services are subject to
change. New local agencies may be selected to operate the WIC Program
and local agencies already in operation may be disqualified for
continued operation. FNS will collect information using form FNS-648 to
report additions and deletions of local agencies operating the WIC
program and local agency address changes, when such changes occur.
Need and Use of the Information: The FNS will collect information
to maintain a local agency directory that lists the names and addresses
of all WIC local agencies. The WIC local agency directory serves as the
primary source of data on the number and location of local agencies and
is published annually. It is used to refer individuals to the nearest
source of WIC Program services and to maintain continuity of program
services to migrant and other transient participants.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 88.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 15.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Forms: 683, 203
& Regulations.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0447.
Summary of Collection: The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
(FMNP) is authorized by Public Law 102-314, enacted on July 2, 1992.
The purpose of the FMNP is to provide resources to women, infants, and
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children who are nutritionally at risk, in the form of fresh,
nutritious, unprepared foods (such as fruits and vegetables) from
farmers' markets; to expand the awareness and use of farmers' markets;
and, to increase sales at such markets. The Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) will collect information from each state that receives a grant
under the FMNP program in conjunction with the preparation of annual
financial and recipient reports.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information from
the state agency administering the FMNP to develop an annual financial
report on the number and type of recipients served by both Federal and
non-Federal benefits under the program. The information is necessary
for reporting to Congress in accordance with the Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local
Governments and for program planning purposes.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government;
Individuals or household; Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 2,009.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 4,912.
Sondra A. Blakey,
Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-31548 Filed 12-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
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