[Federal Register: April 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 77)]
[Notices]
[Page 21495-21497]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ap04-25]
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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 21495]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, Correction
April 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 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-- ORIA_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) 720-6746.
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 Current Research Information System (CRIS)
OMB Control Number: 0524-New.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES) administers several competitive, peer-reviewed research,
education and extension programs, under which awards of a high-priority
are made. These programs are authorized pursuant to the authorities
contained in the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101); the Smith-
Lever Act; and other legislative authorities. The Current Research
Information System (CRIS) is USDA's documentation and reporting system
for ongoing agricultural, food science, human nutrition, and forestry
research. CRIS operates administratively under CSREES, but is a
cooperative endeavor whereby information is collected on a project-by-
project basis from many participant organizations, both federal and
non-federal. Information is received from USDA agencies, State
Agricultural Experiment Stations, the state land-grant colleges and
universities, the institutions of 1890, state schools of forestry,
cooperating schools of veterinary medicine, USDA grant recipients, and
other cooperating institutions. The information is collected primarily
via the Internet using CRIS Web forms.
Need and Use of the Information: The collected information is
necessary in order to provide descriptive information regarding
individual research activities and integrated activities, to document
expenditures and staff support for the activities, and to monitor the
progress and impact of such activities. The information obtained
through the collection process for CRIS furnishes unique data that is
not available from any other source. Interruption in the collection
process, or failure to collect this information, would severely
compromise one of CSREES' primary functions stated in the agency's
strategic plan of ``providing program leadership to identify, develop,
and manage programs to support university-based and other institutional
research.''
Description of Respondents: State, local or tribal Government; not-
for-profit institutions; business or other for-profit; Federal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 30,441.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (varies by form).
Total Burden Hours: 64,228.
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-New.
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 multistate 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.
[[Page 21496]]
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Title: Annual Survey of Farmer Cooperatives.
OMB Control Number: 0570-0007.
Summary of Collection: The Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBS)
was mandated the responsibility to acquire and disseminate information
pertaining to agricultural cooperatives under the Cooperative Marketing
Act of 1926; 7 U.S.C. 451-457 and Public Law No. 450. The primary
objective of RBS is to promote understanding, use and development of
the cooperative form of business as a viable option for enhancing the
income of agricultural producers and other rural residents. The annual
survey collects basic statistics on cooperative business volume, net
income, members, financial status, employees, and other selected
information to support RBS' objective and role. RBS will use a variety
of forms to collect information.
Need and Use of the Information: RBS uses the information collected
to summarized for program planning, evaluation service work and
cooperative analysis and education. The information collected and
published in the annual report on farmer cooperatives supports and
enhances most of the major functions of RBS. By not collecting this
information, the RBS would have difficulties in carrying out its policy
on farmer cooperatives.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 1,766.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 1,685.
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 1944-D, Farm Labor Housing Loan and Grant Policies,
Procedures, and Authorization.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0045
Summary of Collection: Section 514 and 516 of Title V of the
Housing Act of 1949 authorizes Rural Housing Service (RHS) to make
loans and grants to public, private nonprofit and farm worker
organizations for developing farm labor. The objective of this program
is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing and related facilities
for domestic farm labor and migrant labor in areas where needed.
Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is based
on the program requirements and regulation that help to determine an
applicant's eligibility for a loan and/or grant. RHS has the
responsibility for protecting the interest of taxpayer's funds and to
assure that the objectives of the loan and grant programs are carried
out as intended. Failure to have this information would result in
illegal and unauthorized use of federal funds.
Description of Respondents: Farms; not for profit institutions;
State, local or tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 695.
Frequency of Responses: Record keeping; reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 10,151
Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 3570-B, Community Facilities Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0173.
Summary of Collection: The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) authorizes Rural Housing Service (RHS) to make
grants to public agencies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes to
develop essential community facilities and services for public use in
rural areas. These facilities include schools, libraries, childcare,
hospitals, clinics, assisted-living facilities, fire and rescuer
stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings, and
transportation. The Department of Agriculture through its Community
Programs strives to ensure that facilities are readily available to all
rural communities.
Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development field offices
will collect information from applicant/borrowers and consultants. This
information is used to determine applicant/borrower eligibility,
project feasibility, and to ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis
and use loan and grant funds for authorized purposes. Failure to
collect the information could result in improper determinations of
eligibility, improper use of funds, and or unsound loans.
Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State,
Local and Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 863.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,070.
Rural Housing Service
Title: Farm Labor Housing Technical Assistance Grants.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0181.
Summary of Collection: The Housing Act of 1949 gives the Rural
Housing Service (RHS) the authority to make loans for the construction
of farm labor housing (Section 514) and to provide financial assistance
(grants) to eligible private and public nonprofit agencies (Section
516). Only three applicants' proposals will be selected for funding.
The applicants will be notified and given the opportunity to submit a
formal application. These grants will be awarded based on the
qualifications of the applicants and their formal application.
Eligibility for grants is limited to private and public nonprofit
agencies.
Need and Use of the Information: RHS staff in the national office
and Rural Development field offices will collect information from
applicants and grant recipients to determine their eligibility for a
grant, project feasibility, to select grant proposals for funding, and
to monitor performance after grants have been awarded. The three
applicants, who are awarded grants, are required to provide RHS with
quarterly performance reports throughout the 3-year grant period. The
respondents are not required to retain records for more than three
years. Failure to collect this information could result in the improper
use of Federal funds; difficulties in determining eligibility and
selection of qualified applicants; and monitoring performance during
the grant period.
Description of Respondents: Not for profit institutions; State,
local or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 6.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually;
Quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 115.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Cotton Classing, Testing, and Standards.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0008.
Summary of Collection: The U.S. Cotton Standards Act, 7 U.S.C. 51,
53 and 55, authorizes the USDA to supervise the various activities
directly associated with the classification or grading of cotton,
cotton linters, and cottonseed based on official USDA Standards. The
Cotton Program of the Agricultural Marketing Service carries out this
supervision and is responsible for the maintenance of the functions to
which these forms relate. USDA is the only Federal agency authorized to
establish and promote the use of the official cotton standards of the
U.S. in interstate and foreign commerce and to supervise the various
activities associated with the classification or grading of cotton,
cotton linters, and cottonseed based on official USDA standards.
Need and Use of the Information: The Agricultural Marketing Service
uses the various forms to collect information pertaining to
classification of cotton services, to request application for license
and to order or acquire cotton grade and staple standards for upland
and Pima cotton. Only authorized
[[Page 21497]]
employees of USDA use the information.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit;
individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 394.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 109.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Cotton Classification and Market News Service.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0009.
Summary of Collection: The Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act, 7
U.S. Code 471-476, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to collect
and publish annually statistics or estimates concerning the grades and
staple lengths of stocks of cotton. In addition, Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) collects, authenticates, publishes, and distributes
timely information of the market supply, demand, location, and market
prices for cotton (7 U.S.C. 473B). This information is needed and used
by all segments of the cotton industry.
Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on
the quality of cotton in the carryover stocks along with the size or
volume of the carryover. Growers use this information in making
decisions relative to marketing their present crop and planning for the
next one; cotton merchants use the information in marketing decisions;
and the mills that provide the data also use the combined data in
planning their future purchase to cover their needs. Importers of U.S.
cotton use the data in making their plans for purchases of U.S. cotton.
AMS and other government agencies are users of the compiled
information.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 956.
Frequency of Respondents: Reporting: On occasion; Weekly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 716.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Seed Service Testing Program.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0140.
Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of
1946, as amended by 7 U.S.C. 1621 authorizes the Secretary to inspect
and certify the quality of agricultural products and collect such fees
as reasonable to cover the cost of service rendered. The purpose of the
voluntary program is to promote efficient, orderly marketing of seeds
and assist in the development of new and expanding markets. Under the
program, samples of agricultural and vegetable seeds submitted to the
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) are tested for factors such as
purity and germination at the request of the applicant for the service.
The Testing Section of the Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch of AMS
that test the seed and issues the certificates is the only Federal seed
testing facility that can issue the Federal Seed Analysis Certificate.
Need and Use of the Information: Applicants generally are seed
firms who use the seed analysis certificates to represent the quality
of seed lots to foreign customers according to the terms specified in
contracts of trade. The only information collected is information
needed to provide the service requested by the applicant. Applicants
must provide information such as the kind and quantity of seed, tests
to be performed, and seed treatment if present, along with a sample of
seed in order for AMS to provide the service. Only authorized AMS
employee used the information collected to track, test, and report test
results to the applicant. If the information were not collected, AMS
would not know which test to conduct or would not be able to relate the
test results with a specific lot of seed.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farms;
State, local or tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 82.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting; on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 499.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for 7 CFR, Part 29.
OMB Control Number: 0581-0056.
Summary of Collection: The Tobacco Inspection Act (U.S.C. 511)
requires: (1) That all tobacco sold at designated auction markets in
the U.S. be inspected and graded; (2) for the establishment and
maintenance of tobacco standards for U.S. grown types; (3) for the
collection and dissemination of market news; and (4) for provisions to
be made for interested parties to request inspection and grading
services on an ``as needed'' basis. The Dairy and Tobacco Adjustment
Act, 1983 (P.L. 98-198) gives authorization to the Secretary to inspect
all tobacco offered for importation into the United states for grade
and quality except cigar and oriental tobacco which must be certified
by the importer as to kind and type and in the case of cigar tobacco
which will be used solely in the manufacture or production of cigars.
Also, the Secretary has the authority the to fix and collect fees from
the importers to cover the cost of inspection.
Need and Use of the Information: Various forms are use for
inspection and certification process. The primary sources of data used
to complete the forms are used in all business transaction. Only
essential information that cannot be gathered from other sources is
collected. If the information were collected less frequently, it would
eliminate data needed to keep the tobacco industry and the Secretary
abreast of changes.
Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 412.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting; on occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 4,547.
Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-9023 Filed 4-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M