[Federal Register: October 9, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 196)]
[Notices]
[Page 62946-62949]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09oc02-23]
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[[Page 62946]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
October 3, 2002.
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 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) 720-8681.
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.
Agricultural Research Service
Title: Information Collection for Document Delivery Services.
OMB Control Number: 0518-0027.
Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Library (NAL)
accepts requests from libraries and other organizations in accordance
with the national and international interlibrary loan code and
guidelines. In its national role, NAL collects and supplies copies or
loans of agricultural materials not found elsewhere. 7 USC 3125a and 7
CFR 505 gives NAL the authority to collect this information. NAL
provides photocopies and loans of materials directly to USDA staff,
other Federal agencies, libraries and other institutions, and
indirectly to the public through their libraries. The Library charges
for some of these activities through a fee schedule. In order to fill a
request for reproduction or loan of items the library must have the
name, mailing address, phone number, and patron ID number of the
respondent initiating and request, and depending on the method of
delivery, may require a fax number, e-mail address, or Ariel IP
address. The collected information is used to deliver the material to
the respondent, bill for and track payment of applicable fees, monitor
the return to NAL of loaned material, identify and locate the requested
material in NAL collections, and determine whether the respondent
consents to the fees charged by NAL.
Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used
by NAL document delivery staff to identify the protocol for processing
the request. The information collected determines whether the
respondent is charged or exempt from any charges and what process the
recipient uses to make payment if the request is chargeable. The
information provided is also used by staff to process/package the
reproduction or loan for delivery. Without the requested information
NAL has no way to locate and deliver the loan or reproduction to the
respondent, and thus cannot meet its mandate to supply agricultural
material.
Description of Respondents: Federal Government; Not-for-profit
institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government; Business or other for-
profit.
Number of Respondents: 2500.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 725.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: Egg, Chicken, and Turkey Surveys.
OMB Control Number: 0535-0004.
Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current
official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production.
Thousands of farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and others voluntarily
respond to nationwide surveys about crops, livestock, prices, and other
agricultural activities. Estimates of egg, chicken, and turkey
production are an integral part of this program. General authority for
these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7,
Section 2204. This statute specifies ``The Secretary of Agriculture
shall procure and preserve all information concerning agriculture which
she can obtain * * * by the collection of statistics * * * and shall
distribute them among agriculturists''. Information published from the
surveys in this docket is needed by USDA economists and government
policy makers to ensure the orderly marketing of broilers, turkeys and
eggs.
Need and Use of the Information: Statistics on these poultry
products contribute to a comprehensive program of keeping the
government and poultry industry abreast of anticipated changes. All of
the poultry reports are used by producers, processors, feed dealers,
and others in the marketing and supply channels as a basis for their
production and marketing decisions.
Description of Respondents: Farms, Business or other for profit.
Number of Respondents: 3,149.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly; Monthly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 3,133.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: Agricultural Labor Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0535-0109.
Summary of Collection: The 1938 Agricultural Adjustment Act, as
amended in 1948, requires wage rate data for computation of an index
component. This component is used in calculation of parity prices.
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) primary function is to
prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop and livestock
production, disposition, and prices. The Agricultural Labor Survey
[[Page 62947]]
provides employment data for equitable allocation and distribution of
these funds to where seasonal workers need housing and education. The
survey is the only timely and reliable source of information on the
size of the farm worker population. NASS will collect information using
a survey.
Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on
wage rate estimates and the year-to-year changes in these rates and how
changes in wage rates help measure the changes in costs of production
of major farm commodities. Farm worker organizations, private and
government agencies will use agricultural labor data for the planning
and placement of farm workers, in determining immigration policies and
to measure the availability of farm workers across the Nation.
Description of Respondents: Farm.
Number of Respondents: 12,425.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 10,608.
Farm Service Agency
Title: USDA Registration Form to Request Electronic Access Code.
OMB Control Number: 0560-0219.
Summary of Collection: The USDA County Base Agency's (CBA) have
developed a management and technical process that addresses user
authentication and authorization prerequisites for providing services
electronically. The process provides an electronic alternative to
traditional ink signatures. The process is based on a one-time
registration requirement for each CBA customer desiring access to any
on-line services that require user authentication. The information
collected on form AD-2016, USDA Registration Form to Request Electronic
Access Code, is necessary to enable the authentication of users and
grant them access to only those resources for which they are
authorized.
Need and Use of the Information: The voluntary registration process
applies to CBA customers and partners (non-CBA employees) who request
Farm Service Agency, Rural Development, and Natural Resources
Conservation Service provided services. Registration can be requested
by the customer in person, by mail, or by fax. The information
collected on form AD-2016 will be used to verify and validate the
identity of registrants and to enable the electronic authentication of
users. The user will then have access to these authorized resources
without needing to re-authenticate within the context of a single
Internet session.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or Households;
Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 1,100,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,331,000.
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 3575-A, ``Community Program Guaranteed Loans''.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0137.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is
authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to make loans to public agencies,
nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for the development of
essential community facilities primarily serving rural residents. The
Community Facilities Division of the RHS is considered community
Programs under the 7 CFR, part 3575, subpart A. Implementation of the
Community Programs guaranteed loans program was effected to comply with
the Appropriations Act of 1990 when Congress allocated funds for this
authority. The guaranteed loan program encourages lender participation
and provides specific guidance in the processing and servicing of
guaranteed Community Facilities loans. RHS will collect information
using several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information to
determine applicant/borrower eligibility, project feasibility, and to
ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis and use loan funds for
authorized purposes. Failure to collect proper information could result
in improper determination of eligibility, improper use of funds, and/or
unsound loans.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 125.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 76,977.
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Importation of Poultry Meat and Other Poultry Products from
Sinaloa and Sonora Mexico
OMB Control Number: 0579-0144.
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 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. Veterinary
Services, a division within USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), is responsible for administering regulations intended
to prevent the introduction of animal diseases, such as exotic
Newcastle disease into the United States. APHIS currently has
regulations in place that restrict the importation of poultry meat and
other poultry products from Mexico due to the presence of exotic
Newcastle disease in the country. However, APHIS does allow the
importation of poultry meat and poultry products from the Mexican
States of Sinaola and Sonora because they have determined that poultry
meat and products from these two Mexican States pose a negligible risk
of introducing exotic Newcastle disease into the United States. To
ensure that these items are safe for importation, APHIS requires that
certain data appear on the foreign meat inspection certificate that
accompanies that poultry meat and other poultry products from Sinaloa
and Sonora to the United Stats. APHIS also requires that serial
numbered seals be applied to containers carrying the poultry meat and
other poultry products.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to
certify that the poultry meat or other poultry products were (1)
derived from poultry born and raised in commercial breeding
establishments in Sinaloa and Sonora; (2) derived from poultry that
were slaughtered in Sinaloa or Sonora in a Federally-inspected
slaughter plant approved to export these commodities to the United
States in accordance with Food Safety & Inspection regulations; (3)
processed at a Federally inspected processing plant in Sinaloa or
Sonora; and (4) kept out of contact with poultry from any other State
within Mexico. APHIS will also collect information to ensure that the
poultry meat or poultry products from Sinaloa and Sonora pose the most
negligible risk possible for introducing exotic Newcastle disease into
the United States.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit;
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 10.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 40.
[[Page 62948]]
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Livestock & Meat Market News.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0154.
Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7
U.S.C. 1621), Section 203(g), directs and authorizes the collection and
dissemination of marketing information including adequate outlook
information, on a market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating
and meeting consumer requirements aiding in the maintenance of farm
income and to bring about a balance between production and utilization.
Livestock and Meat Market News provides a timely exchange of accurate
and unbiased information on current marketing conditions (supply,
demand, prices, trends, movement, and other information) affecting
trade in livestock, meats, grain, and wool. Administered by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), this
nationwide market news program is conducted in cooperation with
approximately 30 States departments of agriculture. AMS will collect
information using market reports.
Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on
price, supply, and movement of livestock, meat carcasses, meat and pork
cuts, and meat hyproducts. Several agencies, agricultural universities
and colleges use the information collected to keep apprised of the
current market conditions, movement of livestock and meat in the United
States and to determine available supplies and current pricing.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State,
Local or Tribal Government; Farm; Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 450.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly; Other (Daily).
Total Burden Hours: 7,202.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Food Stamp Mail Issuance Report.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0015.
Summary of Collection: Section 7(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop appropriate procedures
for determining and monitoring the amount of food coupon inventories
maintained by State agencies for the Food Stamp Program. Section 7(f)
makes State agencies strictly liable for financial losses involved in
coupon issuance with the exception of coupons sent through the mail to
the extent prescribed in the regulations. The Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS), on behalf of the Secretary, requires each coupon issuer
to submit quarterly a written report of the issuer's operations during
the periods. The FNS will collect information using FNS Form 259, Food
Stamp Mail Issuance Report.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to
establish the issuance and accountability systems which ensures that
only certified eligible households receive benefits; that program
benefits are timely distributed in the correct amount; and that coupon
issuance and reconciliation activities are properly conducted and
accurately reported to FNS. The State agency is responsible, regardless
of any agreements to the contrary, for ensuring that assigned duties
are carried out in accordance with FSP regulations.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 200.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 67.
Agricultural Research Service
Title: Food Stamp Nutrition Connection Resource Sharing Form.
OMB Control Number: 0518-NEW.
Summary of Collection: In 2001, the United States Department of
Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) established the Food
Stamp Nutrition Connection to improve access to Food Stamp Program
nutrition resources. The National Agricultural Library's Food and
Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) currently develops and maintains
this resource system. A proposed voluntary ``Sharing Form'' would give
Food Stamp nutrition education providers the opportunity to share their
resources and learn about existing materials. Data collected using this
form will help FNIC identify nutrition education and training resources
for review and inclusion in an online database. FNS encourages, but
does not require or mandate, state Food Stamp nutrition education
programs to submit materials to FNIC for inclusion in the Food Stamp
Nutrition Connection database.
Need and Use of the Information: FNIC will use the collected
information to help build an online database of nutrition education and
training materials. Food Stamp nutrition education providers could use
this information to identify and obtain curricula, lesson plan,
research, training tools and participant materials. The information
will be collected using online and printed versions of the form.
Failure to collect this information would significantly inhibit FNIC's
ability to provide up-to-date information on existing nutrition
education materials that are appropriate for Food Stamp nutrition
education programs.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Federal
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government; Business or other for-
profit.
Number of Respondents: 50.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 16.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Title: Survey of Cooperatives on Selecting Director Candidates for
Director Elections.
OMB Control Number: 0570-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS)
mission is to assist farmer-owned cooperatives in improving the
economic well being of their farmer-members. The Cooperative Marketing
Act of 1926 established the Cooperative Services Program (CS).
Cooperatives are a distinctive form of business in operating with
democratic control and ownership by members. The agricultural
businesses operated by cooperatives are becoming increasingly
complicated and their industries are competitive. The existing
conditions for Cooperatives practices and operations are not longer
exceptive and they need to adopt formal methods for screening and
evaluation.
Need and Use of the Information: RBS developed a survey to collect
information on different methods and procedures used in selecting
candidates for election to board of directors, for recruitment, and for
monetary compensation for directors.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 490.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 113.
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Foreign Quarantine Notices.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0049.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
is responsible for preventing plant disease or insect pests from
entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests and noxious
weeds not widely distributed in the United States, and eradicating
those imported pests when eradication is feasible. The Plant Protection
Act authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. Under the
Plant Protection Act (Title IV, Pub. L. 106-224, 114 Stat. 438, 7
U.S.C. 7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to
prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, exportation, or movement
in interstate commerce of
[[Page 62949]]
plant pests and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant
pests into the United States. Implementing the laws is necessary to
prevent injurious plant and insect pest from entering the United
States, a situation that could produce serious consequences for U.S.
agriculture. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is
required to collect information from a variety of individuals, both
within and outside the United States, who are involved in growing,
packing, handling, transporting, and importing foreign plants, roots,
bulbs, seeds, importing foreign logs, lumber, other unmanufactured wood
articles, and other plant products. APHIS will collect this information
using a number of forms.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to
ensure that plants, fruits, vegetables, roots, bulbs, seeds, foreign
logs, lumber, other unmanufactured wood articles, and other plant
products imported into the United States do not harbor plant diseases
or insect pests that could cause serious harm to U.S. agriculture.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit;
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 92,457.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 91,138.
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: TB Payments to El Paso Texas.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0193.
Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. authorizes sections 111,
114, 114a, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134c, 134f, and 134g. These
authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and eliminate
domestic diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as to take actions to
prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease,
rinderpest, and other foreign animal diseases. More specifically, 21
U.S.C. 111, 115, and 118 authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to take
such measures as she may deem proper to prevent the introduction or
dissemination of any contagious or communicable disease of animals or
live poultry from a foreign country into the United States or from one
State to another. Disease prevention is the most effective method for
maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) ability to compete in exporting animals
and animal products. Since 1985, State Animal Health Officials in
Texas, along with APHIS, have been taking measure to eliminate
tuberculosis in dairy herds in the El Paso, Texas area. As a result of
these eradication efforts, dairy herds in the El Paso area have become
free of tuberculosis, only to become reinfected again. Because of this
situation, APHIS determined that in order to further the eradication of
tuberculosis in the United States, it is necessary to remove all bovine
dairy herds from El Paso area. APHIS published an interim rule that
would allow them to make payments to El Paso dairy herd owners if these
owners agree to dispose of their dairy herds, closing their existing
dairy operations. and refrain from establishing new cattle breeding
operations in the area. A number of information collection activities
will be used to collect information for dairy owners.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to
provide payment to owners of dairy cattle and other property used in
connection with dairy operations in the area of El Paso, Texas. To be
eligible for payment under this program, all owners of dairy operations
in the area of El Paso, Texas must sign and adhere to an agreement with
APHIS.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State,
Local or Tribal Government; Farms.
Number of Respondents: 95.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 875.
Sondra A. Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-25677 Filed 10-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
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