[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20164-20165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10800]


      
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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 78 / Thursday, April 23, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 17, 1998.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (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; (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 addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, D.C. 20503 and to 
Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, 
D.C. 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are 
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of 
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling (202) 720-6746.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Research on Rural Cooperative Opportunities and Problems.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-New.
    Summary of Collection: The mission of the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS) is to improve the quality of life in rural 
America by financing community facilities and businesses, providing 
technical assistance and creating effective strategies for rural 
development. Approximately $1.9 million in competitive cooperative 
agreement funds have been allocated for RBS to award to public or 
private colleges or universities, research foundations maintained by a 
college or university, or private nonprofit organizations to encourage 
research on critical issues vital to the development and sustainability 
of cooperatives as a means of improving the quality of life in 
America's rural communities. Information required from applicants 
applying for these funds will include written proposals and forms 
describing the proposed research project and the individual or 
organization's profile and legal authority to apply for funds. If 
selected, the funding recipient, will be required to submit quarterly 
progress reports and maintain financial records and supporting 
documentation for three years.
    Need and Use of the Information: The application information to be 
collected will be used by RBS to evaluate (1) eligibility; (2) the 
specific purpose for which the funds will be utilized; (3) time frames 
or dates by which activities surrounding the use of funds will be 
accomplished; (4) feasibility of the project; (5) applicants' 
experience in managing similar activities; and (6) the effectiveness 
and innovation used to address critical issues vital to the development 
and sustainability of cooperatives as a means of improving the quality 
of life in America's rural communities. Progress reports from funding 
recipients will be used to monitor the actual accomplishments to 
established objectives and compliance with funding requirements. 
Recordkeeping requirements are imposed by regulation to support audit 
activities.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,280.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Food Stamp Program Regulations, Quality control--Part 275.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0303.
    Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), as 
administrator of the Food Stamp Program, requires each State agency 
implementing a quality control system to provide a basis for 
determining each State agency's error rates through review of a sample 
of Food Stamp cases. Each State agency is responsible for the design 
and selection of the quality control samples and must submit a quality 
control sampling plan for approval to FNS. Additionally, State agencies 
are required to maintain case records for three years to ensure 
compliance with provisions of the Food Stamp Act.
    Need and Use of the Information: The quality control sampling plan 
is necessary for FNS to monitor State operations and is essential to 
the determination of a State agency's error rate and corresponding 
entitlement to increased Federal share of its administrative costs or 
liability for sanctions.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,830.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Revolving Loan Funds Capitalized by USDA Rural Development.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-New.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service 
(RBS), an agency within the Rural Development mission areas of USDA, 
operates several programs that provide funds to organizations to be 
used for loans to third-party recipients. RBS currently has little 
information about the ultimate recipients of these programs. 
Accordingly, RBS has entered into a cooperative agreement with Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA Tech) to development an 
automated data base of information on

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ultimate recipients of loans. Collection of information will be 
accomplished through the use of a form that may be completed manually 
or electronically.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will 
include data about the ultimate recipients of loans made by 
intermediaries (i.e., organizations which receive loans or grants 
directly from the Federal government). This information will improve 
measurement of program impacts in accordance with the National 
Performance and Results Act and provide information necessary for an 
analysis of the potential for secondary market sales of the loans held 
by the intermediaries.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 550.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,750.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Marketing Agreement No. 146, Regulating the Quality of 
Domestically Produced Peanuts (7 CFR Part 998).
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0067.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 
through the authorities emanating from the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937 and marketing agreement No. 146 (covering peanuts 
grown in the U.S.), regulates certain agricultural commodities for the 
purpose of providing orderly marketing conditions in interstate 
commerce and improving returns to producers. The required information 
relating to peanut supplies, shipments, inspection, disposition, and 
other inventory information is collected through the use of 
standardized forms and written letters.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected falls 
into two categories: (1) Information from peanut handlers nominated, 
and subsequently selected, to serve on the Peanut Administrative 
Committee, and (2) information about peanut stocks--quantity purchased 
and milled, and monthly expenses. The information related to the first 
category is used by the Secretary of Agriculture to determine whether 
nominees are eligible to serve in the positions for which they were 
nominated. Information in the second category is necessary to implement 
regulations and provide oversight of the marketing agreement.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 29.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 126.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: Form RD 1940-59, Settlement Statement.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0088.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing (RHS) and the Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) are requesting an extension of the OMB clearance for Form 
RD 1940-59, ``Settlement Statement.'' The Real Estate Settlement 
Procedures Act (RESPA), as amended, requires the disclosure of real 
estate settlement costs to real estate buyers and sellers. Disclosure 
of the nature and costs of a mortgage transaction enables the borrower 
to be a more informed customer and protects the public from 
unnecessarily high settlement charges.
    Need and Use of the Information: Form RD 1940-59 is completed by 
Settlement Agents, Closing Attorneys, and Title Insurance Companies 
performing the closing of RHS loans and credit sales used to purchase 
or refinance Section 502 Housing, Rural Rental Housing, and Farm 
Laboring Housing. The information is collected to provide the buyer and 
the seller with a statement detailing the actual costs of the 
settlement services involved in certain Agency financed real estate 
transactions. Failure to collect the information and disclose the 
information would be a violation of the RESPA.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 17,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 20,500.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Potato Diversion Program--7 CFR Part 80.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0145.
    Summary of Collection: The Potato Diversion Program is administered 
under the general direction of and supervision of the Agricultural 
Marketing Service, and in the field will be carried out by the Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) through State or County Committees. The Potato 
Diversion Program is authorized by the Act of August 24, 1935, Section 
32. The objectives of the Potato Diversion Program are to make payment 
to producers for the diversion of potatoes subject to the terms and 
condition set forth, to charitable institutions, for use as livestock 
feed, or for compost. Information must be collected in order to 
determine the amount paid to each producer for the quantity of potatoes 
diverted by the producer under the Potato Diversion Program.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information will be collected from 
producers of eligible potatoes on Forms FSA-117, FSA-118, FSA-120 by 
the County FSA Offices. The information on Form FSA-117 is obtained 
from producers desiring to participate in this program and establishes 
the hundredweight of potatoes approved for diversion. The information 
on Form FSA-118 is obtained from the producer by arranging for 
inspection so that the inspector can be present to determine the 
proportion of potatoes in each lot which meet the quality requirements 
for the program. The information on Form FSA-120 is obtained from the 
producer after the FSA-117 is approved and the diversion has been 
completed, but before diversion period has expired for the Potato 
Diversion Program.
    Description of Respondent: Farm; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondent: 1,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually; Other-when authorized.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,251.
Nancy Sternberg,
Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-10800 Filed 4-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M