[Federal Register: February 16, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 31)]
[Notices]               
[Page 7923-7924]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16fe05-26]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

 
2004 Dairy Disaster Assistance Payment Program (DDAP)

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the 
United States Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation, 
is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations 
regarding a new information collection. This collection is necessary to 
add information collections on a new form that will be used to gather 
specific information from producers on their dairy production and 
spoilage losses suffered as a result of the 2004 hurricanes. The 
information collected will be used to establish eligibility and to 
determine payment amounts.

DATES: Comments on the information collection requirements in this 
notice must be received on or before April 18, 2005 to be assured 
consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments regarding this information 
collection requirement may be directed to Danielle Cooke, telephone 
(202) 720-1919; fax (202) 690-1536; e-mail: 
Danielle_Cooke@wdc.usda.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 2004 Dairy Disaster Assistance Payment Program.
    OMB Number: 0560-NEW.
    Type of Request: Request for Approval of a New Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: Dairy operations are eligible to receive direct payments 
provided they make certifications that attest to their eligibility to 
receive such payments. As appropriate, these operations must certify, 
with respect to: (1) The producers in the dairy operation being 
associated with a dairy farm operation physically located in a county 
declared a disaster by the President of the United States in 2004 due 
to hurricanes; (2) the pounds of dairy production losses and dairy 
spoilage losses incurred as a result of any of the 2004 hurricanes; (3) 
that they

[[Page 7924]]

understand the dairy operation must provide adequate proof of monthly 
milk production commercially marketed by all persons in the dairy 
operation during the period specified by the Commodity Credit 
Corporation (CCC) to determine the total pounds of eligible losses 
incurred by the operation. The information collection will be used by 
CCC to determine the program eligibility of the dairy operations. CCC 
considers the information collected essential to prudent eligibility 
determinations and payment calculations. Additionally, without accurate 
information on dairy operations, the national payment rate would be 
inaccurate, resulting in payments being made to ineligible recipients, 
and the integrity and accuracy of the program could be compromised.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Dairy Operations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,115 hours.
    Proposed topics for comment include: (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 collected; 
or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the 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. Comments regarding 
this information collection requirement may be directed to the Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503, and to 
Grady Bilberry, Director, Price Support Division, Farm Service Agency, 
United States Department of Agriculture, STOP 0512, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0512 or telephone (202) 720-7901. All 
comments will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on February 9, 2005.
James R. Little,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 05-2941 Filed 2-15-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-05-P