[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16958-16959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9018]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of a Previously 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 Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to 
request a reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved 
information collection. Since the previous information collection 
package has expired, an emergency information collection package 
clearance is being sought by the Department. This information 
collection is used in support of conservation programs which offer 
flexible assistance for threats to soil, water, grazing lands, 
wetlands, and wildlife habitat, involve the purchase of conservation 
easements on farms with prime, unique, or other productive soil for the 
purpose of protecting topsoil by limiting nonagricultural uses of the 
land, and address other natural resource concerns, such as nonpoint 
source pollution, water quality protection or improvement, and wetland 
restoration, protection, and creation, as authorized

[[Page 16959]]

by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 
Act).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before June 8, 
1998 to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Ilka Gray, Agricultural 
Program Specialist, USDA, FSA, CEPD, STOP 0513, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0513; telephone (202) 690-0794; e-
mail Ilka Gray @ wdc.fsa.usda.gov; or facsimile (202) 720-4619.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: CCC Conservation Contract.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0174.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The 1996 Act authorized the Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program, the Farmland Protection Program, and the 
Conservation Farm Option Program to assist farmers and ranchers in 
solving natural resource related problems on agricultural land. The 
information is necessary to ensure the integrity of the programs and to 
ensure that only eligible producers are authorized contracts.
    Producers requesting cost-share or incentive payments from the 
Commodity Credit Corporation must provide specific data related to the 
conservation payment request. Forms included in this information 
collection package require farm and tract numbers, conservation 
practice or benefits requested, major resource concerns, and similar 
information, in order to determine eligibility. Producers must also 
agree to the terms and conditions contained in the conservation 
contract. Without the collection of this information, CCC cannot ensure 
the integrity of CCC conservation programs.
    Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average .25 hours per 
response.
    Respondents: Individuals producers, partnerships, corporations, 
tribal members, or other eligible agricultural producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 88,500.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 7.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5.88.
    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 must 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 Ilka K. Gray, Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA-FSA-
CEPD, STOP 0513, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-
0513; telephone (202) 690-0794; e-mail Ilka.G[email protected]; or 
facsimile (202)720-4619. Copies of the information collection may be 
obtained from Ilka Gray 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, D.C., on March 27, 1998.
Keith Kelly,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 98-9018 Filed 4-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P