[Federal Register: January 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 16)]
[Notices]
[Page 3539]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ja04-14]
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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 3539]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to
request an extension for a currently approved information collection in
support of the CCC Facility Guarantee Program (FGP) based on re-
estimates.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 26, 2004, to
be assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact William S. Hawkins, Director,
Program Administration Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, AgStop 1031, Washington, DC 20250-1031,
telephone (202) 720-3241 or e-mail at william.hawkins@fas.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: CCC Facility Guarantee Program.
OMB Number: 0551-0032.
Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2004.
Type of Request: Extension of and revision to a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The primary objective of the FGP is to expand U.S.
agricultural exports by improving agricultural infrastructure in
importing countries. The FGP makes available export credit guarantees
to encourage U.S. private sector financing of foreign purchases of U.S.
goods and services on credit terms. The CCC currently offers the FGP
for exports to at least 9 countries and 6 country regions. The FGP
information collection is similar to those for the Export Credit
Guarantee Program (GSM-102) and the Intermediate Export Credit
Guarantee Program (GSM-103) (OMB control number 0551-0004). The
information collection for the FGP differs primarily as follows:
(1) The applicant, in order to receive a payment guarantee,
provides information evidencing that the exported goods and services
used to develop improved infrastructure will primarily benefit exports
of U.S. agricultural commodities and products; and
(2) The applicant is required to certify that the value of non-U.S.
components of goods and services is less than 50 percent of the
contract value covered under the payment guarantee.
In addition, each exporter and exporter's assignee (U.S. financial
institution) must maintain records on all information submitted to CCC
and in connection with sales made under the FGP. The information
collected is used by CCC to manage, plan, evaluate and account for
government resources. The reports and records are required to ensure
the proper and judicious use of public funds.
Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for these
collections is estimated to average 12 hours per response.
Respondents: Exporters of U.S. agricultural commodities, banks or
other financial institutions, producer associations, export trade
associations, and U.S. government agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 5 per annum.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6 per annum.
Estimated Total Annual Burden of Respondents: 360 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kimberly
Chisley, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 720-
2568 or e-mail at Kimberly.Chisley@usda.gov.
Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) whether the
proposed 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 the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments may be sent to William S. Hawkins, Director, Program
Administration Division, FAS, USDA, Stop 1031, Washington, DC 20250, or
william.hawkins@fas.usda.gov, or to the Desk Officer for Agriculture,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503. Persons with disabilities who
require an alternative means for communication of information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval.
All comments will also become a matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC on January 15, 2004.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1538 Filed 1-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M