[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 29703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14270]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Request for Extension, Revision, and Separation 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 intention of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
(CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request extension for the 
Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation 
certification requirements and to separate from collections currently 
approved under OMB No. 0560-0004 which includes several other unrelated 
areas for information collection. This information is collected in 
support of the conservation provisions of Title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985, as amended by the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and the Federal Agriculture, 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 1, 
1997, to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact LaVonne Maas, Agricultural 
Program Specialist, Compliance and Production Adjustment Division, 
USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20250-0517, (202) 720-8128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation 
Certification.
    OMB Number: New submission.
    Expiration Date: June 30, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of that portion of a 
previously approved information collection that relates to the Highly 
Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation requirements. The 
conservation requirements are being separated from inclusion with 
several other unrelated forms to eliminate confusion with other 
requirements and to provide clear information specifically for the 
conservation requirements according to 7 CFR part 12.
    Abstract: Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended by 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and the 
Federal Agriculture, Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 conditions 
certain Department of Agriculture (USDA) benefits on compliance with 
certain requirements relating to highly erodible lands and wetlands. 
Rules governing those requirements are codified in 7 CFR Part 12. In 
order to ensure that persons who request benefits subject to the 
conservation restrictions get technical assistance needed and are 
informed regarding the compliance requirements on their land, 
information is collected with regard to their intended activities on 
their land that could affect their eligibility for requested USDA 
benefits. Once technical determinations are made, producers are 
required to certify that they will comply with the conservation 
requirements on their land to maintain their eligibility.
    Persons may request that certain activities be exempt according to 
provisions of the statute. Information is collected from those who seek 
these exemptions for the purpose of evaluating whether the exempted 
conditions will be met.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .22 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individual producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 506,350.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 109,477 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 should be 
sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 
20503 and to LaVonne Maas, Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA-Farm 
Service Agency-Compliance and Production Adjustment Division, STOP 
0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0517, 
(202) 720-8128.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 13, 1997.
Richard O. Newman,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 97-14270 Filed 5-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P