[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66779-66780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31226]



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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 26, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 66779]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of Currently 
Approved Information Collection Regulations Governing the Financing of 
Commercial Sales of Agricultural Commodities

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, 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 Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) intention to 
request a revision to a currently approved information collection under 
the Pub. L. 480, title I program based on a final rule published at 60 
FR 62702 on December 7, 1995.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 26, 1996 to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Connie B. Delaplane, Director, Public Law 480 Operations Division, 
Foreign Agricultural Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 
14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1033; telephone 
(202) 720-3664.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Regulations--Financing Commercial Sales of Agricultural 
Commodities under Title I, P.L. 480.
    OMB Number: 0551-0005.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1998.
    Type of Request: Minor revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Title I of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, (Pub. L. 480) authorizes the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to finance the sale and exportation 
of agricultural commodities on concessional credit terms. 7 U.S.C. 1701 
et seq. Suppliers of commodities and ocean transportation must retain 
records for three years and report payments to representatives of 
importing countries. Prospective commodity suppliers must provide 
information for the Department to determine eligibility. Commodity 
suppliers must report details of sales for price approval. Shipping 
agents nominated by importing countries must submit information to 
allow identification of possible conflicts of interest.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for these collections 
of information in the regulations prior to this amendment was estimated 
at eight hours per response for suppliers of commodities and ocean 
transportation (records retention and reporting payments); three hours 
per response for prospective commodity suppliers; 15 minutes per 
response for commodity suppliers reporting sales; and 1\1/4\ hours per 
response for shipping agents which are nominated by importing 
countries.
    The changes contained in the final rule are expected to have a 
quantifiable increase on only one of these estimates. Suppliers of 
commodities and ocean transportation will be required to report any 
payment ``delivered to'' a representative of the importer or importing 
country as well as payments ``to'' such representatives. (Sec. 17.12). 
Suppliers submitted only four reports for FY 1994, with an estimated 
burden of 1 hour for a report which contained information on a payment 
and 15 minutes for a negative report. If the number of positive reports 
tripled as a result of this final rule, the total reporting burden 
would increase from 1\3/4\ hours to 12 hours.
    Little or no burden increase is expected for the other two 
modifications to information collection requirements contained in the 
final rule. Suppliers of ocean transportation will, if requested, have 
to furnish to CCC copies of related discharge contracts when they are 
financed by CCC. (Sec. 17.12.) Such contracts are available to the 
supplier as a routine part of the transaction, and CCC will request 
them only when necessary to clarify the terms of the contract. Shipping 
agents nominated by importing countries must slightly expand the 
programs and services referenced in their conflict of interest 
certification and must also certify that no kickbacks or illegal 
benefits were paid in connection with their selection. [Sec. 17.5(c) 
(7) and (8).] Given the widespread use of word processing, this should 
take only a few minutes to change in the master document which will 
then become a part of every subsequent submission by the agent.
    Respondents: Suppliers of commodities and ocean transportation; 
prospective commodity suppliers; shipping agents.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 103.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 528 hours (existing); 
new burden estimate is 538\1/4\ hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Pamela 
Hopkins, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 720-
6713.

Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (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 including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (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 appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Connie 
B. Delaplane, Director, P.L. 480 Operations Division, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 14th and 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-1033; telephone (202) 
720-3664.
    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.


[[Page 66780]]

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on December 18, 1995.
Christopher E. Goldthwait,
General Sales Manager, Foreign Agricultural Service and Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 95-31226 Filed 12-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M