[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 2943-2944] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-1185] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency Notice of Request for Reinstatement and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) intention to request a reinstatement and revision of a currently approved information collection in support of the Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) contingent upon the appropriation of funds. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before March 23, 1998 to be assured consideration. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raellen Erickson, Agricultural Program Specialist, Price Support Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0512, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0512; telephone (202) 720-7320; e-mail [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces FSA's intention to request a reinstatement and revision of the currently approved information collection in support of the DIPP. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Pub. L. 105-86, 111 Stat. 2079) appropriated funds and authorized DIPP to be carried out until all available funds are expended. Title: 7 CFR Part 760, Dairy Indemnity Payment Program. OMB Control Number: 0560-0116. Expiration Date: June 30, 1997. Type of Request: Reinstatement and revision of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: This information is needed to administer the DIPP. The information will be gathered from milk producers and milk handlers to determine the amount of indemnity payment a dairy producer or manufacturer is eligible to receive. Producers are required to meet certain eligibility requirements to ensure the integrity of the program so that only eligible producers receive indemnity payments. The number of times producers or manufacturers have been removed from the market has declined in recent years. Accordingly, fewer requests for assistance have been received. Therefore, the currently approved information collection is revised to reduce the number of responses per request and the annual burden per respondent to half of the currently approved estimate. The emergency clearance of the Information Collection Package for Indemnity Payment Programs was approved by the Office of Management and Budget on November 20, 1997, and extended the expiration date to April 30, 1998. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 17 minutes per response. Respondents: Dairy farms and small businesses. Estimated Number of Respondents: 80. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 6. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 140 hours. Proposed topics for comments 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 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 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 Raellen Erickson, Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA- Farm Service Agency- [[Page 2944]] Price Support Division, STOP 0512, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0512; telephone (202) 720-7320; e-mail [email protected]. Copies of the information collection may be obtained from Raellen Erickson at the above address. OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection 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. 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. Signed at Washington, DC, on January 8, 1998. Keith Kelly, Administrator, Farm Service Agency. [FR Doc. 98-1185 Filed 1-16-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-P