[Federal Register: April 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 72)]
[Notices]
[Page 18189-18192]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap03-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
April 9, 2003
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirements(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.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Title: CSREES Proposal Review Process.
OMB Control Number: 0524-NEW.
Summary of Collection: This information collection is authorized
under 7 CFR Section 3015.158, which governs competition in the awarding
of discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. These regulations
set forward the standard that proposals are to be evaluated objectively
by independent reviewers in accordance with written criteria set forth
by the awarding agency. The Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service (CSREES) will collect information using the
``Proposal Review Sheet'' or the ``Reviewer Worksheet''.
Need and Use of the Information: CSREES will collect information to
ensure that proposals are of high quality and are consistent with the
goals and requirements of the funding program. CSREES uses the results
of the proposal evaluation to determine whether a proposal should be
declined or recommended for award. If the information is not collected,
it would be difficult for a review panel and CSREES staff to determine
which projects warrant funding.
Description of Respondent: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or
other for-profit; Individuals or households; Federal Government; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 4,520.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 113,000.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Title: Vegetable Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0535-0037.
Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National
Agricultural Statistics (NASS) is to prepare and issue current official
state and national estimates of crop and livestock production.
Vegetable estimates are an integral part of this function. The
vegetable program is complex in that some crops are processing only,
some are fresh market only, and others are dual crops (both processing
and fresh market). Vegetable processors are surveyed the first week of
April for their intended acreage of vegetables for processing and the
first week of July for acreage contracted. The fresh market vegetable
program consists of weekly estimates during the growing season for
tomatoes in Florida. NASS will collect information using surveys.
Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information to
estimate acreage planted and harvested, production, price, and
utilization for the varies crops. The estimates provided vital
statistics for growers, processors, and marketers to use in making
production and marketing decisions.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit
Dept.
Number of Respondents: 31,391.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually; Other (seasonally).
Total Burden Hours: 5,021.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program and the Market
Access Program.
OMB Control Number: 0551-0026.
Summary of Collection: The authority for the Foreign Market
Development Cooperator Program and the Market Access Program (MAP) is
contained in Title VII and section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of
1978, U.S.C. 5721, et. seq. The primary objective of the Foreign Market
Development Cooperator Program and the Market Access Program is to
encourage and aid in the creation, maintenance and expansion of
commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products through cost-
share assistance to eligible trade organizations. Personnel of the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) administer the programs. Prior to
initiating program activities, each Cooperator or MAP participant must
submit a detailed application to FAS.
Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information to
manage, plan, evaluate, and account for government resources. Without
the submission of information, the programs could not be implemented.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State,
Local, or Tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 71.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 91,070.
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Risk Management Agency
Title: New Crop Insurance Programs (pilot and private crop
insurance policies).
OMB Control Number: 0563-0057.
Summary of Collection: The Federal Corp Insurance Act (ACT), as
amended in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000 expanded the role of the crop
insurance program to be the principal tool for risk management by
producers of farm products, provided for independent review of crop
insurance products, and gave contracting authority for the development
of new products. The expansion mission of the Risk Management Agency
(RMA) is to meet the obligation of mandatory program development and to
expand the current program to provide risk management products to the
greatest number of people covering the greatest dollar value of
commodities. RMA prepares the crop insurance policy provisions,
underwriting guidelines, actuarial documents, and loss adjustment
standards. Producers are required to report specific data when applying
for crop insurance. The information supplied must be accurate and
complete so insurance companies and Federal Crop Insurance corporation
(FCIC) can determine liability, subsidy premium, and the amount of
indemnity and is necessary for administering the crop insurance
program. The FCIC is the only Federal agency that administers crop
insurance.
Need and Use of the Information: RMA will collect information
indicating the crop, type, variety, and practice that will be insured
in the state and county along with the premium rates and crop price
elections that will be available. The information is used to determine
liability and premium. The information collected will be used Federal
Agencies, RMA, crop insurance companies reinsured by FCIC, and other
agencies that require such information in the performance of their
duties. If the information collected is not submitted by the specified
dates, the producer may not have insurance coverage.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 14,496.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Weekly; Monthly;
Semi-Annually; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 13,113.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: 7 CFR 1730, Review Rating Summary.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0025.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) manages
loan programs in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act)
of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended. An important part of
safeguarding loan security is to see that RUS financed facilities are
being responsible used, adequately operated, and adequately maintained.
Future needs have to be anticipated to ensure that facilities will
continue to produce revenue and that loans will be repaid as required
by the RUS mortgage. Regular periodic operations and maintenance (O&M)
review can identify and correct inadequate O&M practices before they
cause extensive harm to the system. Inadequate O&M practices can result
in public safety hazards, increased power outages for consumers, added
expense for emergency maintenance, and premature aging of the
borrower's systems, which could increase the loan security risk to RUS.
RUS will collect information using form 300 Review Rate Summary.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
identity items that may be in need of additional attention; to plan
corrective actions when needed; to budget funds and manpower for needed
work; and to initiate ongoing programs as necessary to avoid or
minimize the need for ``catch-up'' programs.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 229.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 916.
Rural Utilities Service
Title: RUS Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of
Timber Products.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0036.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric,
telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. Loan
programs are managed in accordance with the Rural Electrification Act
(RE Act) of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will use the information in
verifying acceptability of poles and crossarms purchased by RUS
borrowers. Each year, RUS borrowers are required to submit an Annual
Summary of Purchases that provides a list of plants from which it
obtained poles or crossarms during the preceding calendar year and
Treaters must provide notification that they will treat poles for the
upcoming year. Test reports are needed so that the purchaser, the
inspectors, and RUS will be able to spot-check the general accuracy of
the tests.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 700.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 40,763.
Rural Utility Service
Title: 7 CFR 1773, Policy on Audits of RUS Borrowers.
OMB Control Number: 0572-0095.
Summary of Collection: Under the authority of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (ACT), as amended 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., the
Administrator is authorized and empowered to make loans under certain
specified circumstances for the purpose of furnishing and improving
telephone service in rural areas. RUS, in representing the Federal
Government as Mortgagee, relies on the information provided by the
borrowers in their financial statements to make lending decisions as to
borrowers' credit worthiness and to assure that loan funds are
approved, advanced and disbursed for proper Act purposes. Borrowers are
required to furnish a full and complete report of their financial
condition, operations and cash flows, in form and substance
satisfactory to RUS.
Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to
evaluate borrowers' financial performance, determine whether current
loans are at financial risk, and determine the credit worthiness of
future losses. If information were not collected, it would delay RUS'
analysis of the borrowers' financial strength, thereby adversely
impacting current lending decisions.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1,500.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 16,677.
Rural Housing Service
Title: Form RD 410-8, Application Reference Letter (A Request for
Credit Reference).
OMB Control Number: 0575-0091.
Summary of Collection: Form RD 410-8, Applicant Reference Letter,
provides credit information and is used by Rural Housing Service (RHS)
to obtain information about an applicant's credit history that might
not appear on a credit report. It can be used to document an ability to
handle credit effectively for applicants who have not used sources of
credit that appear on a
[[Page 18191]]
credit report. The form provides RHS with relevant information about
the applicant's creditworthiness and is used to make better decisions.
Need and use of the Information: RHS will collect information to
supplement or verify other debts when a credit report is limited and
unavailable to determine the applicant's eligibility and
creditworthiness for RHS loans and grants.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 10,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,000.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: 9 CFR 160-162, Veterinary Accreditation Program.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0032.
Summary of Collection: Title 21, U.S.C. authorizes sections 111,
114, 114a, 114-1, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134c, 134f, and 134g.
These authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and
eliminate domestic diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis, as
well as to take action to prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as
foot-and-mouth and rinderpest. Diseases prevention is the most
effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and
enhancing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS)
ability to complete in exporting animals and animal products. Because
APHIS does not have sufficient numbers of Federal personnel to perform
all of the disease prevention work that must be done, APHIS relies
heavily on assistance from veterinarians in the private sector.
Regulations governing the Veterinary Accreditation Program are found in
Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, parts 160, 161, and 162.
Operating this important program requires APHIS to engage in a number
of information collection activities in the form of applications for
veterinary accreditation, veterinary accreditation orientation and
training, paperwork associated with tasks performed by our accredited
veterinarians (such as completing certificates, applying and removing
official seals, and completing test reports); reviewing applications
for veterinary accreditation and re-accreditation, recordkeeping, and
updating information on accredited veterinarians. APHIS will collect
information using several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to
determine that a veterinarian has met the requirements for being
accredited, or for obtaining re-accreditation. APHIS will also collect
information to ensure that accredited veterinarians are knowledgeable
of current Federal and State animal health regulations, objectives and
programs and are competent in their application. If information is not
collected it would significantly destroy APHIS' ability to operate the
Veterinary Accreditation Program.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State,
Local and Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 88,244.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 63,031.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Fruit and Vegetable Market News Reports.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0006.
Summary of Collection: Section 203(g) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621) directs and authorizes the collection of
information and disseminating 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 bring about balance between production
and utilization of agriculture products. Market News provides all
interested segments of the market chain with market information tends
to equalize the competitive position of all market participants. The
fruit and vegetable industries, through their organizations, or
government agencies present formal requests that the Department of
Agriculture issue daily, weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly market news
reports on various aspects of the industry.
Needs and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information for
the production of Market News reports that are then available to the
industry and other interested parties in various formats. Information
is provided on a voluntary basis and is gathered through confidential
telephone and face-to-face interviews by market reporters.
Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 18,347.
Frequency of Response: Reporting; Weekly; Monthly.
Total Burden Hours: 120,964.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Food Stamp Employment and Training (E & T) Program Activity
Report.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0339.
Summary of Collection: The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L.
105-33), enacted on August 5, 1997, modified the Employment and
Training (E&T) Program so that States' efforts are now focused on a
particular segment of the food stamp population--able-bodied adults
without dependents (ABAWDs). Section 6(d) of the Foot Stamp Act of 1977
and 7 CFR 273.7 require as a condition of eligibility each food stamp
household members not exempt shall be registered for employment by the
State agency at the time of application and once every twelve months
thereafter. This requirement pertains to non-exempt food stamp
household member age 16 to 60. Each State agency must screen each work
registrant to determine whether to refer the individual to its E&T
Program. States' E&T Programs are federally funded through an annual
E&T grant. Both the Food Stamp Act and regulations require States to
file quarterly reports about their E&T Programs so that the Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) can monitor their performance.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect quarterly reports
about their E&T programs so that the Department can monitor State
performance to ensure that the program is being efficiently and
economically operated. Without the information FNS would be unable to
make adjustments or allocate exemptions in accordance with the statute.
Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 53.
Frequency of Response: Reporting; Quarterly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 29,455.
Forest Service
Title: Baseline and Trend Information on Wilderness Use and Users.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0108.
Summary of Collection: The Wilderness Act (Pub. L. 88-577) directs
that wilderness be managed to preserve natural conditions and to
provide outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and
unconfined type of recreation. To meet these management goals, managers
must adapt their programs to changes in the amount and type of use and
resultant conditions. It is also important for managers to be aware of
likely visitor response to proposed management actions and their
preferences for resource conditions. Very little is known about trends
in the characteristics, activities and preferences of visitors to
wilderness and other wildlands. The Forest Service (FS) will collect
information using mail back survey forms, face-to-face and on-site
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interviews to establish usage baselines and monitor trends in some
areas for critical use and user characteristics for representatives
Forest Service wilderness area.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information from
visitors to find out how many times they visit, when they plan their
next visit, or if they plan to visit at all. Visitors will be asked,
when visiting, if they come in groups, and if so, the size of those
groups and how long they stay when visiting. Also, visitors will be
asked do they use equipment such as stoves, wood for fires and do they
have preferences for social conditions? If the information is not
collected FS will have no basis for making management decisions and
establishing policy for guiding wilderness management in general.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 1,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 416.
Rural Development
Title: Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (Ongoing
Reporting Requirements).
OMB Control Number: 0570-0027.
Summary of Collection: The Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000
extends the duration for all Empowerment Zone through December 2009.
The Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities program (EZ/EC)
provides economically depressed rural areas and communities with
opportunities for growth and revitalization. USDA has designated 120
Champion communities from the EZ/EC applicant communities that have
agreed to implement their strategic plans in accordance with the
principles of the program and report regularly on their progress.
Need and Use of the Information: Periodic reviews provide the basis
for USDA to continue or revoke a designation during the life of the
federal program. These reports provide progress on each project that
the designee has specified in their implementation plans. A warning
letter may be sent to recipients who have been regarded as
noncompliance or have made insufficient progress in implementing the
strategic plan.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 178.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 3,762.
Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-9174 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
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