[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 118 (Thursday, June 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 33392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16014]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 118 / Thursday, June 19, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 33392]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Request for Reinstatement and Extension of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and the 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 Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request an extension for an 
information collection currently approved in support of the FSA and CCC 
Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures regulations. Provisions in the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and in the Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996 have resulted in a decrease in 
burden hours for information collection under the FSA and CCC Debt 
Settlement Polices and Procedures program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 18, 
1997 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas F. Harris II, Financial 
Analyst, Financial Management Division, Farm Service Agency, USDA , 
STOP 0581, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20013-0581, 
telephone (703) 305-1439.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures, 7 CFR Part 792.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0146
    Type of Request: Reinstatement and extension of an approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The information collected under the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) Number 0560-0146, as indicated above, is needed to 
enable FSA and CCC to effectively administer the Debt Settlement 
Policies and Procedures program. Collection of outstanding debts owed 
to FSA or to the CCC can be effected by installment payments if a 
debtor furnishes satisfactory evidence of inability to pay a claim in 
full, and if the debtor specifically requests for an installment 
agreement. Part of the requirements is that the debtor furnish this 
request in writing and with a financial statement or other information 
that would disclose a debtor's assets and liabilities. This information 
is required in order to evaluate any proposed plan. Such documentation 
requests furnished by the debtor are also used in other collection 
tools employed by both FSA and CCC in managing debt settlement policies 
and procedures. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 requires 
the head of an agency to take all appropriate steps to collect 
delinquent debts before discharging such debts. These steps require the 
employment of these information collection forms and formats which have 
been successfully used for the past several years and which have become 
familiar tools for both Agency employees and for the producer. Thus 
forms and formats already exist and are in use. Having to develop and 
introduce new forms and formats into the market place would add 
additional burdens and costs to both the producer and to the Agency in 
the handling of the claim settlement and collection processes and would 
create additional burdens not called for under the Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated at 30 minutes per response. Each response 
consists of a letter request, a financial statement, and, if approved, 
a Promissory Note (CCC-279).
    Respondents: Producers participating in FSA and CCC programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 125 hours.
    Topics for comment include but are not limited to the following: 
(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; or (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 regarding this information 
collection requirement may be directed to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for USDA, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Thomas F. Harris II. 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.
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection(s) of 
information contained in these proposed regulations between 30 and 60 
days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, a comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect 
if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 11, 1997.
Bruce R. Weber,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency and Acting Executive Vice 
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 97-16014 Filed 6-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P