[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 80 (Monday, April 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 20567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11030]


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 Notices
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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 80 / Monday, April 27, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 20567]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, 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 Farm Service Agency's (FSA) intention to request 
an extension for an information collection currently approved for FSA's 
regulation governing the designation of natural disaster areas by the 
Secretary for physical and production losses, or by the FSA 
Administrator for physical losses only. The regulations concerning this 
activity are published under the authority of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before June 26, 
1998 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven R. Bazzell, Senior Loan 
Officer, Farm Loan Programs, Farm Service Agency, STOP 0520, 1400 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0520; telephone (202) 
690-4022; e-mail [email protected]; or facsimile (202) 690-
3573.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Disaster Assistance--General.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1998.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0170.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The information collected under Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Number 0560-0170 is needed to enable FSA to evaluate 
requests for a Secretarial natural disaster designation, or in the case 
where only physical loss of property occurred, an FSA Administrator's 
notification. The information collected establishes whether there was a 
(1) county-wide (or similar jurisdiction), 30-percent reduction in 
agricultural income, or (2) evidence that undue hardship will be 
suffered by farmers and ranchers if FSA Emergency Loan (EM) assistance 
is not made available. Once authorized, a Secretarial natural disaster 
designation makes low-interest EM loans (and certain other Federal 
assistance) available to eligible family farmers and ranchers who have 
suffered a 30-percent income loss.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated at 0.51 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals, State and local business and government 
officials, households and farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,020
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondents: 1.0
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 525 hours
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSA duties and 
responsibilities, and whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSA's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden 
of the collection of information. Comments may be sent to the Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
OMB, Washington, D.C. 20503, and also to Steven R. Bazzell at the 
address listed above. All responses to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval.
    All comments will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., on April 10, 1998.
Keith Kelly,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 98-11030 Filed 4-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P