[Federal Register: May 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 88)]
[Notices]
[Page 25363-25365]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06my04-23]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 25363]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
April 29, 2004.
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), Pamela -- Beverly -- OIRA --
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.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: Commodity Credit Corporation's Facility Guarantee Program
(FGP).
OMB Control Number: 0551-0032.
Summary of Collection: Under the authority of 7 CFR Part 1493,
Subpart C, the Facility Guarantee Program (FGP) offers credit
guarantees to facilitate the financing of U.S. manufactured goods and
services to improve or establish agriculture infrastructure in emerging
markets. Sales under FGP are considered normal commercial sales. The
FGP makes available export credit guarantees to encourage U.S. private
sector financing of foreign purchase of U.S. goods and services on
credit terms.
Need and Use of the Information: The Foreign Agricultural Service
(FAS) will collect information to determine eligibility for FGP
benefits, the impact on U.S. agricultural trade and to ensure Commodity
Credit Corporation (CCC) that all participants have a business office
in the U.S. and are not debarred or suspended from participating in
government programs. The information requested will provide CCC with
adequate information to meet statutory requirements. If the information
were not collected, CCC would be unable to determine if export sales
under the FGP would be eligible for coverage or, if coverage conformed
to program requirements.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 5.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 329.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: The Integrity Program (TIP) Data Collection.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0401.
Summary of Collection: The basis for this data collection and
reporting system is Part 246.5 of the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC)
Program regulations, which requires State agencies to report annually
on their vendor monitoring efforts. The data collected from the States
serves as a management tool to provide Congress, OIG senior program
managers, as well as the general public, assurances that program funds
are spent appropriately and that every reasonable effort is made to
prevent, detect and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse.
Need and Use of the Information: The information collected by FNS
is used to analyze trends, to identify possible vendor management
deficiencies, to formulate program policy and regulations. At the State
level, the information is used to provide assurances to the Governor's
office, and other interested parties, that WIC issues are being
addressed.
Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 88.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 3,725.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Summary Food Service Program Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food
and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers food programs that provide
nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for eligible children who are 6
through 18 years of age. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which
is administered by FNS, was designed to meet the summer food needs of
eligible children who qualify for free or reduced-price breakfasts and
lunches during the regular school year. During the summer months,
federally funded meals are available through the SFSP at state-approved
sites. Of the 15 million eligible children, only about 1.9 million
(14%) participated in the SFSP in July 2002. Another 1.4 million of the
15 million eligible students (9%) who attended summer school or year-
round schools in July 2002 were served free or reduced-price meals
through NSLP. FNS is committed to ensuring adequate nutrition in the
summer for children who are eligible for the free or reduced-price
breakfast and lunch programs during the regular school year. FNS is
interested in determining why children who are eligible for SFSP do not
participate in the program.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to
understand the reasons for the discrepancies in participation rates
between the breakfast and lunch programs during the regular school year
and the SFSP. The results will enable policy-makers in and out of
government to better understand what program initiatives might be
effective in
[[Page 25364]]
increasing participation rates in SFSP. Without the data collection,
FNS does not have the necessary information for developing strategies
to increase SFSP participation and to ensure that NLSP and SBP eligible
school age children have nutritious meals during the summer months.
Also, the research will contribute to an understanding of how the food
needs of the non-participants in SFSP are being met in the summer.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 546.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
Total Burden Hours: 147.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Title: Reporting Requirements for State Plans of Work for
Agricultural Research and Extension Formula Funds.
OMB Control Number: 0524-0036.
Summary of Collection: Section 202 and 225 of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) requires
that a plan of work must be submitted by each institution and approved
by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES) before formula funds may be provided to the 1862 and 1890
land-grant institutions. The plan of work must address critical
agricultural issues in the State and describe the programs and project
targeted to address these issues using the CSREES formula funds. The
plan of work also must describe the institution's multi-state
activities as well as their integrated research and extension
activities.
Need and Use of the Information: Institutions are required to
annually report to CSREES the following: (1) The actions taken to seek
stakeholder input to encourage their participation; (2) a brief
statement of the process used by the recipient institution to identify
individuals or groups who are stakeholders and to collect input from
them; and (3) a statement of how collected input was considered. CSREES
uses the information to provide feedback to the institutions on how to
improve the conduct and the delivery of their programs. Failure to
comply with the requirements may result in the withholding of a
recipient institution's formula funds and redistribution of its share
of formula funds to other eligible institutions.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 75.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 160,860.
Rural Housing Service
Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications
for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI).
OMB Control Number: 0575-0180.
Summary of Collection: Congress created the Rural Community
Development Initiative (RCDI) in fiscal year 2000 and funds were
appropriated under the Rural Community Advancement Program. The intent
of the RCDI grant program is to develop the capacity and ability of
rural area recipients to undertake projects through a program of
financial and technical assistance provided by qualified intermediary
organizations. Intermediaries are required to provide matching funds in
an amount equal to the RCDI grant. Eligible recipients are private,
nonprofit community-based housing and community development
organizations and low-income rural communities.
Need and Use of the Information: The Rural Housing Service will
collect information to determine applicant/grantee eligibility, project
feasibility, and to ensure that grantees operate on a sound basis and
use grant funds for authorized purposes. Failure to collect this
information could result in improper use of Federal funds.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 146.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly;
Annually, Third party disclosure.
Total Burden Hours: 2,026.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Poultry Market News report.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0033.
Summary of Collection: 7 U.S.C. provides authorization to collect
and disseminate marketing information and to provide adequate outlook
information on a market-area basis for the purpose of anticipating and
meeting consumer requirements, to aid in the maintenance of farm income
and bring about a balance between production and utilization of
agricultural products. In 1951, Congress approved a program for the
development of Federal-State Market News Services. The Market News
Branch headquarters in Washington, DC, is responsible for coordinating
the market news program. The mission of market news is to provide
current, unbiased, factual information to all members of the nation's
agricultural industry, from farmers to retailers.
Need and Use of the Information: Industry participants are provided
with up-to-date information on the movement of product and the amount
of product in storage on a current basis, so that necessary adjustment
in product flow can be made. If this information were collected less
frequently, it would result in ``stale'' data that would be of little
to no use to industry and public concerns.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; Individuals or households; Farms.
Number of Respondents: 1,710.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly; Weekly.
Total Burden Hours: 17,647.
Forest Service
Title: Annual Wildfire Report.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0025.
Summary of Collection: The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of
1978 (U.S.C. 2101) requires the Forest Service (FS) to collect
information about wildfire suppression efforts by State and local fire
fighting agencies in order to support specific congressional funding
requests for the Forest Service State and Private Forestry Cooperative
Fire Program. The program provides supplemental funding for State and
local fire fighting agencies. The FS works cooperatively with State and
local fire fighting agencies to support their fire suppression efforts.
FS will collect information using form FS 3100-8, Annual Wildfire
Summary Report.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to
determine if the Cooperative Fire Program funds provided to the State
and local fire fighting agencies have been used by State and local
agencies to improve their fire suppression capabilities. The
information collected will be shared with the public about the
importance of the State and Private Cooperative Fire Program. FS would
be unable to assess the effectiveness of the State and Private Forestry
Cooperative Fire Program, if the information provided on FS-3100-8 were
not collected.
Description of Respondents: Federal Government; State, Local or
Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 55.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 55.
Rural Business Service
Title: 7 CFR 4279-B, Guaranteed Loan Making--Business and Industry
Loans.
OMB Control Number: 0570-0017.
Summary of Collection: The Business and Industry (B&I) program was
[[Page 25365]]
legislated in 1972 under Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act, as amended. The purpose of the program is to
improve, develop, or finance businesses, industries, and employment and
improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities.
This purpose is achieved through bolstering the existing private credit
structure through the guaranteeing of quality loans made by lending
institutions, thereby providing lasting community benefits. The B&I
program is administered by the Rural Business Service (RBS) through
Rural Development State and sub-State offices serving each State.
Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect information to
determine eligibility and creditworthiness for lenders and borrowers.
The information is used by RBS loan officers and approval officials to
determine program eligibility and for program monitoring.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 8,544.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 19,761.
Forest Service
Title: Timber Purchasers' Cost and Sales Date.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0017.
Summary of Collection: The Multi-Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960,
the Forest Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, and the
National Forest Management Act of 1976, authorizes the Forest Service
(FS) to sell forest products and National Forest System timber. FS
timber and product appraisers develop advertised timber and product
sale prices using residual and transaction evidence method of
appraisal. Residual appraisals begin through the collection of
production cost data. Transaction evidence appraisals begin with an
average of past successful bids by timber purchasers for timber for
which the stumpage rate has been adjusted for the timber sale and
market conditions at the time. FS collects the data from timber sales
and product purchases through submissions by contractors both locally
and nationally. There are no forms required for the collection of costs
data.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to
verify that the minimum rates returned a fair value to the Government
and that the residual and transaction system are a reliable approach to
valuing timber and products. The information is also used to assure the
accuracy of the residual and transaction system and to develop minimum
stumpage rates for small sales or for areas where there is no current
sale activity to use for transaction evidence. If the information is
not collected, FS would have difficulties in determining if the value
received from products really reflects the true market value.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 35.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 70.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: 7 CFR Part, 70. Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Poultry
Products and Rabbit Products.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0127.
Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60
Stat. 1087-1091, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA) directs and
authorizes the Department to develop standards of quality, grades,
grading programs, and services to enable a more orderly marketing of
agricultural products so trading may be facilitated and consumers may
be able to obtain products graded and identified under USDA programs.
Regulations in 7 CFR Part 70 provide for a voluntary program for
grading poultry and rabbits on the basis of U.S. classes, standards and
grades. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) carries out the
regulations, which provide a voluntary program for grading poultry and
rabbit products. This program is voluntary where respondents would need
to request or apply for the specific service they wish.
Need and Use of the Information: Since the AMA requires that the
cost of the service be assessed and collected, there is no alternative
but to provide voluntary programs on a fee for service basis and to
collect the information needed to establish the costs. Only authorized
representatives of the USDA use the information collected to administer
the grading services requested by the respondents.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; Federal
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 361.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Semi-annually;
Monthly; Annually; Other (Daily).
Total Burden Hours: 1,753.
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 1927-B, ``Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan
Closing.''
OMB Control Number: 0575-0147.
Summary of Collection: Rural Development and the Farm Service
Agency are the credit agencies for the Department of Agriculture. They
offer a supervised credit program to build family farms, modest
housing, sanitary water and sewer systems, essential community
facilities, businesses and industries in rural areas. Section 306 of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONTACT), 7 U.S.C.
1926, authorizes RUS to make loans to public agencies, American Indian
tribes, and non-profit corporations. The loans fund the development of
drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities in
rural areas with populations of up to 10,000 residents. Section 501 of
Title V of the Housing Act provides authorization to extend financial
assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace or
rehabilitate dwellings and to provide decent, safe and sanitary living
conditions in rural areas. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized
to prescribe regulations to ensure that these loans made with federal
funds are legally secured.
Need and Use of the Information: The approved attorney/title
company (closing agent) and the field office staff collect the required
information. Forms and or guidelines are provided to assist in the
collection, certification and submission of this information. Most of
these forms collect information that is standard in the industry. If
the information is collected less frequently, the agency would to
obtain the proper security position on the properties being taken as
security and would have no evidence that the closing agents and agency
met the requirements of this regulation.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or
other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions; Farms.
Number of Respondents: 41,642.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 28,578.
Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-10280 Filed 5-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M