[Federal Register: July 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 141)]
[Notices]
[Page 43965-43968]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jy04-30]
========================================================================
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.
========================================================================
[[Page 43965]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
July 15, 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_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395-5806 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.
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Add Yucatan Peninsula to List of Regions Considered Free of
END.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0228.
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 brucellosis, as well as to take actions to
prevent and manage exotic diseases such as classical swine fever and
other foreign animal diseases. Disease prevention is the most effective
method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability to compete
in the world market of animal and animal product trade. Veterinary
Services, a program with APHIS, is responsible for carrying out this
disease prevention mission. The agency regulates the importation of
animals and animal products into the United States to guard against the
introduction of exotic animal diseases such as exotic Newcastle disease
(END). The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 allow the importation of
poultry meat and products and live poultry from the Mexican States of
Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan under conditions designed to ensure
that the poultry meat and products and live poultry will not transmit
END.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information
through the use of a certification statement that must be completed by
Mexican veterinary authorities prior to export. The information
collected from the certificate will provide APHIS with critical
information concerning the origin and history of the items destined for
importation in the United States. Without the information APHIS'
ability to ensure that poultry, poultry meat, or other poultry products
from certain States within Mexico pose a minimal risk of introducing
exotic Newcastle disease and other exotic animal diseases in the United
States.
Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 5.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 50.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: West Indian Fruit Fly.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0170.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture,
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for
preventing plant pests disease or insect pests from entering the United
States, preventing the spread of noxious weeds not widely distributed
in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests when
eradication is feasible. Under the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C.
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or
restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plant, and plant pests
to prevent the introduction of plant pests in the United States or
their dissemination within the United States. The West Indian fruit
fly, is a very destructive pest of fruits and vegetables, including
carambola, grapefruit, guava, limes, mangoes, oranges, passion fruit,
peaches, and pears. This pest can cause serious economic losses by
lowering the yield and quality of fruits and vegetables and, in some
cases, by damaging seedlings and young plants.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information
using forms PPQ 540, to certify bulk shipments of regulated articles.
If the information were not collected, APHIS would be unable to provide
for the interstate movement of certain articles from the quarantined
area.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 37.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 37.
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
[[Page 43966]]
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 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 it is necessary to remove all bovine
dairy herds from El Paso to further the eradication of tuberculosis in
the United States. If these owners agree to dispose of their dairy
herds, close their existing dairy operations and refrain from
establishing new cattle breeding operations in the area, APHIS would
make payments to El Paso diary herd 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.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Title: Karnal Bunt; Compensation for Custom Harvesters in Northern
Texas.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0248.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture,
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for
preventing plant pests disease or insect pests from entering the United
States, preventing the spread of noxious weeds not widely distributed
in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests when
eradication is feasible. Under the Plant Protection Act (PPA) (7 U.S.C.
7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or
restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plant, and plant pests
to prevent the introduction of plant pests in the United States or
their dissemination within the United States. The regulations regarding
Karnal Bunt are set forth in 7 CFR parts 301.89-1 through 301.89-16.
APHIS amended the Karnal Bunt regulations to provide for the payment of
compensation to custom harvesters for losses they incurred due to the
requirement that their equipment be cleaned and disinfected after four
counties in northern Texas were declared regulated areas for Karnal
Bunt during the 2000-2001 crop season.
Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information
using PPQ 540, Certificate of Federal/State Domestic Plant Quarantines.
The certificate is used for domestic movement of treated articles
relating to quarantines. The information collected is critical to the
mission of preventing the infestation of Karnal Bunt into non-infested
areas of the United States.
Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 40.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 8.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: Export Assistance and Services.
OMB Control Number: 0551-0031.
Summary of Collection: The Ag Export Services Division of the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) facilitates trade contacts between
U.S. exporters and foreign buyers seeking U.S. food and agricultural
products. Authority for this program falls under 7 U.S.C. part 1761,
part 5693 and part 1765B. All of the assistance and services offered by
the division are designed to promote U.S. agricultural exports; help.
U.S. firms make contact with export agents, trading companies,
importers and foreign buyers and create an opportunity to sell their
products in overseas markets. The specific programs covered by
authority are Trade Shows and Missions, U.S. Suppliers List, Buyer
Alert, Foreign Buyers List, Customer Matchmaking, Export Directory of
U.S. Food Distribution Companies, Trade Leads, Export Promotion Events,
Madigan Award and Newsletters. This service provides the U.S. firm an
opportunity to have a data record providing basic information about the
company and the products it exports put into a USDA maintained
database. FAS will collect information using a combination of forms and
telephone interviews.
Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information on
contact names, mailing addresses, telephones, fax, e-mail, and Web
sites. The main purpose for collecting the information is to foster
trade contacts in an effort to facilitate greater export of U.S.
agriculture food, forestry, and fishery products. The databases are
used to recruit U.S. exporters, importers, and buyers to participate in
market development activities sponsored by USDA. These databases must
be updated periodically to maintain the integrity and usefulness to the
trade community.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 57,700.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: annually; on occasion;
quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 8,463.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Title: Export Sales of U.S. Agricultural Commodities.
OMB Control Number: 0551-0007.
Summary of Collection: The export sales reporting system provides
commodity market participants with information about commodity export
commitments and is one means by which USDA seeks to insure fairness and
soundness in commodity marketing. U.S. exports are required to report
to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) information on: (1) The
quantity of a reportable commodity to be sold to a foreign buyer; (2)
the country of destination; and (3) the marketing year of shipment. The
authority to collect this information is found at 7 CFR part 20 and the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5712).
Need and Use of the Information: The information collected provides
up-to-date market data to FAS administrative officials for making
rational export policy decisions to prevent market disruptions. FAS
reports the information to the public so that all market participants
can be aware of and evaluate the effects of exports on supply and
demand estimates of production, prices, and sales.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 380.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping: reporting; quarterly;
weekly.
Total Burden Hours: 31,190.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Title: Application for Inspection, Sanitation, and Exemptions.
OMB Control Number: 0583-0082.
Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) has been delegated the authority to exercise
[[Page 43967]]
the functions of the Secretary as provided in the Federal Meat
Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products
Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and the Egg Products
Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031). These statutes mandate that
FSIS protect the public by ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg
products are not adulterated, wholesome, and properly labeled and
packaged. FSIS requires meat, poultry, and import establishments to
apply for a grant of inspection before they can receive Federal
inspection. FSIS requires FSIS accredited non-Federal analytical
laboratories to maintain certain paperwork and records.
Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information
using several FSIS forms to ensure that all meat and poultry
establishments produce safe, wholesome, and unadulterated product, and
that non-federal laboratories accord with FSIS regulations. In
addition, FSIS will use the information to ensure that meat and poultry
establishments exempted from FSIS's inspection do not commingle
inspected and non-inspected meat and poultry products; that retail
firms qualifying for a retail store exemption and who have violated the
provision of the exemption are no longer in violation.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 16,755.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 114,583.
Farm Service Agency
Title: Collection of Market Prices.
OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act
of 2002 (2002 Act) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter
Act gives authority in establishing market values for wheat, feed
grains, soybeans, minor oilseeds, and pulses. The market values for
these agricultural commodities are used to establish posted county
prices (PCP) which the Farm Service Agency (FSA) uses under it
marketing assistance loan program. The 2002 Act and CCC Charter Act
authorizes CCC to determine and announce alternative repayment rates
based upon the market prices at appropriate U.S. markets to minimize
loan forfeitures, minimize the Federal Government-owned inventory of
the commodities, minimize the storage costs incurred by the Federal
Government, and minimize discrepancies in marketing loan benefits
across State and county boundaries.
Need and Use of the Information: The Kansas City Commodity Office
(KCCO) merchandisers will make daily market calls or collect electronic
market prices from warehouse operators, as well as examine values from
future closes from the Board of Trade, information from the Commodity
News Service, and Agricultural Marketing Service. FSA uses the market
prices collected to establish PCPs, which provide an estimate of
current prices at the county level and which become the alternative
repayment rate, or market price, producers may redeem their marketing
assistance loans from county FSA offices.
Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 30.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: weekly; other (daily).
Total Burden Hours: 1,800.
Risk Management Agency
Title: Standard Reinsurance Agreement Plan of Operations.
OMB Control Number: 0563-NEW.
Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act, title 7
U.S.C. chapter 36 sec. 1508(k) authorizes the Federal Crop Insurance to
provide reinsurance to approved insurance providers that insure
producers of any agricultural commodity under one or more acceptable
plans. The Standard Reinsurance Agreement is a financial agreement
between FCIC and the company to provide subsidy and reinsurance on
eligible crop insurance. The Plan of Operation provides the information
the insurer is required to file for the initial and each subsequent
reinsurance year.
Need and Use of the Information FCIC uses the information as a
basis for the approval of the insurer's financial and operational
capability of delivering the crop insurance program and for evaluating
the insurer's performance regarding implementation of procedures for
training and quality control. If the information were not collected,
FCIC would not be able to reinsure the crop business.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms;
Federal government.
Number of Respondents: 14.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: annually.
Total Burden Hours: 11,200.
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 1944-L, Tenant Grievance and Appeals Procedure.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0046.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is
authorized, under sections 514, 515, and 521 of the Housing Act of
1949, to provide loans and grants to eligible recipients of the
development of rural rental/cooperative and labor housing. The agency
is responsible for assuring the public that the housing projects
financed are managed and operated as mandated by Congress. The multiple
family housing projects are intended to meet the housing needs of
persons or families who have moderate, low-and very-low incomes, senior
citizens, the handicapped and domestic farm laborers. In 1980, RHS
implemented a grievance and appeals procedure for tenants, members and
applicants for occupancy in multiple family housing. The procedure
requires certain information to be collected whenever a tenant wishes
to appeal adverse actions by owners/managers of multi-family housing
project financed by RHS.
Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used
to notify tenants of the reasons for the adverse actions, to ascertain
the viewpoint of the tenant, and in the course of trying to resolve the
grievance. The consequence of not collecting the information is that
tenants, members or applicants would not be able to exercise their
rights provided by the Tenant Grievance Appeals procedure.
Description of Respondents: Business or for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 200.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 82.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under Regulations
(Other than Rules of Practice) Under the Perishable Agricultural
Commodities act, 1930.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0031.
Summary of Collection: The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act
(PACA) establishes a code of fair trading practices covering the
marketing of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables in interstate or
foreign commerce. It protects growers, shippers and distributors by
prohibiting unfair practices. PACA requires nearly all person who
operates as commission merchants, dealers (of which now restaurants are
a subset) and brokers buying or selling fruit and or vegetables in
interstate or foreign commerce to be licensed. The license for
retailers and grocery wholesalers is effective for three years and for
all other licensees up to three years, unless withdrawn.
Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information from
the applicant to administer licensing
[[Page 43968]]
provisions under the Act. If this information were unavailable, it
would be impossible to identify and regulate those individuals or firms
that are restricted due to sanctions imposed because of the reparation
or administrative actions.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions; individuals or households; farms.
Number of Respondents: 15,829.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 155,138.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Food Stamp Program Regulations, Part 275--Quality Control.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0303.
Summary of Collection: Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
provides the legislative basis for the operation of the Food Stamp
Program Quality Control system. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS),
as administrator of the Food Stamp Program, requires each State agency
to implement a quality control system to provide basis for determining
each State agency's error rates through review of a sample of Food
Stamp cases. Each State agency is responsible for the design and
selection of the quality control samples and must submit a quality
control sampling plan for approval to FNS. Additionally, State agencies
are required to maintain case records for three years to ensure
compliance with provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.
Need and Use of the Information: The quality control sampling plan
is necessary for FNS to monitor State operations and is essential to
the determination of a State agency's error rate and corresponding
entitlement to increased Federal share of its administrative costs or
liability for sanctions.
Description of Respondents: State, local, or tribal government;
Federal government.
Number of Respondents: 53.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion;
annually.
Total Burden Hours: 2,074.
Forest Service
Title: Volunteer Application for Natural Resource Agencies.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0080.
Summary of Collection: The Volunteer Act of 1972, (Pub. L. 92-300)
as amended, authorizes the Forest Service (FS) to involve as many
volunteers as is efficient, effective, and cost-beneficial to
accomplish the FS mission. Volunteers build and maintain trails,
construct campground facilities, improve wildlife habitat, and perform
other useful and important conservation services. FS will collect
information using the Volunteer Application OF 301.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect the names,
addresses, and certain information of individuals who are interested in
public service as volunteers. The information is used by FS Managers
for the purpose of contacting applicants and interviewing and screening
them for volunteer positions. There could be no program without the
information from the application.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 58,100.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: other (one time).
Total Burden Hours: 14,525.
Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-16778 Filed 7-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-M