[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23416-23418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11360]


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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. 82 / Wednesday, April 29, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 24, 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, Pub. L. 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, DC 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.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Food Stamp Accountability Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0009.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Stamp Act of 1977 authorizes the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), on behalf of the Secretary of 
Agriculture, to develop procedures for the delivery of food stamp 
coupons to issuance agents and bulk storage points, and for monitoring 
the level of coupon inventories. Regulations for the Food Stamp Program 
require that each issuance and bulk inventory point report monthly 
issuance and food stamp inventory activity on Form FNS-250, Food Coupon 
Accountability Report to FNS through the State agency.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected on the 
FNS-250, Food Coupon Accountability Report, includes beginning and end-
of-month coupon inventories, receipt and transfers of coupon shipments, 
coupons returned to inventory, and credits. The reported data is used 
by the FNS regional officer to validate the State agency liability 
billing for food stamp losses.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,587.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 57,132.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1942-C, Fire and Rescue Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0120.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is 
authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to make loans to public agencies, 
nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for the development of 
essential community facilities primarily serving rural residents. The 
primary regulation for administering this Community Facility program is 
7 CFR 1942-A (0575-0015). Information must be collected to determine 
eligibility, analyze financial feasibility, take security, monitor the 
use of loan funds, and monitor the financial condition of borrowers, 
and otherwise assisting borrowers.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information will be collected 
by Rural Development field offices from applicant/borrowers and 
consultants through a variety of standardized forms and other existing 
documents. This information will be used to determine applicant/
borrower eligibility, project feasibility, and ensure borrowers operate 
on a sound basis and use loan funds for authorized purposes.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,130.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 6,595.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1924-C, Planning and Performing Site Development Work.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0164.
    Summary of Collection: Section 502 of Title V of the Housing Act of 
1949, as amended, authorizes the Rural Housing Service (RHS) to provide 
financial assistance to farm owners and other persons living in rural 
areas for the purpose of obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings 
and related facilities. The purpose of the financial assistance is to 
give families, who do not have sufficient resources to provide such 
dwellings and related facilities on their own account and cannot obtain 
the necessary credit from other sources on terms and conditions they 
can reasonably expect to meet, an opportunity to have adequate homes. 
RHS makes direct loans to applicants of up to 100 percent of the 
appraised value of the property, therefore, the site and its 
development are an integral part of the dwellings and related 
facilities being financed. Accordingly, information about the site 
proposal such as location, topography, soils, energy, and environmental 
considerations must be collected.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information required for site 
approval is collected from the appraiser by the completion of Form HUD-
54891, ``Appraiser/Review Appraiser Checksheet''. All the material and 
information requested on Form HUD-54891 is readily available to the 
appraiser and the builder. The form requests general information about 
the site proposal, such as: location, topography, soils, energy, and 
environmental considerations. The

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information collected is necessary to assure orderly development of 
rural areas which will lead to economically stable communities while 
considering the impacts on the environment and protecting the 
borrower's and Government's Security interests.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 20,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,340.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for 7 CFR Part 29.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0056.
    Summary of Collection: The Dairy and Tobacco Adjustment Act of 1983 
(Pub. L. 98-198) authorizes the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 
on behalf of the Secretary, to inspect all tobacco offered for 
importation into the United States for grades and quality except cigar 
and oriental tobacco which must be certified by the importer as to kind 
and type, and in the case of cigar tobacco, that such tobacco will be 
used solely in the manufacture or production of cigars. The Act also 
authorizes the Secretary to fix and collect fees from the importers to 
cover the cost of inspection. Information must be collected from the 
public whenever USDA inspection or certification services are 
requested.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information is collected by AMS 
through a variety of forms and other documents regularly used in the 
importation and sale of tobacco. AMS uses the information to identify 
applications for inspection and/or certification of tobacco, identify 
applications for new auction markets or the extension of services to 
designated tobacco markets, and solicit nominations/recommendations for 
individuals to serve on the National Advisory Committee for Tobacco 
Inspection Services.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 645.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,569.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: Rural Housing Demonstration Programs--Section 502.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0114.
    Summary of Collection: Section 506 of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended by Title V--Rural Housing of Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery 
Act of 1983, directs the Secretary to conduct research, technical 
studies and demonstrations in order to improve the architectural 
designs, cost effectiveness and utility of housing units. The amendment 
allows the Secretary to permit housing demonstrations which do not meet 
existed published standards, rules, regulations or policies, if the 
Secretary finds that in doing so, the health and safety of the 
population is not adversely affected. The Rural Housing Service (RHS) 
will collect information from applicants seeking an innovation housing 
unit award.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information from 
the proposer to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses to which the 
proposal concept possesses or lacks the attributes set forth in the 
proposed content and evaluation criteria. RHS will use the collected 
information to select the most feasible proposals that will enhance the 
Agency's chances in accomplishing the demonstration objective. The 
information will be utilized to sustain and modify RHS's current 
policies pertaining to the construction of modest housing.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,200.

Rural Development and Farm Service Agency

    Title: 7 CFR 1980-A, Guaranteed Loans--General.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0024.
    Summary of Collection: The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (CONACT), as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
make and service loans guaranteed by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and 
the Rural Housing Service (RHS) to eligible applicants. The loan 
programs to which this subpart is applicable include farm operating, 
farm ownership, and soil and water loans. The collection of information 
requested is necessary to assure that the program is being carried out 
in accordance with the applicable laws and authorities. Additionally, 
information must be collected because the law requires that certain 
policies be verified by FSA to assure that loan applicants and 
borrowers comply with such policies in order to obtain the requested 
assistance.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA and RHS require some 
information to be reported on standard forms in order to facilitate an 
effective and efficient decision-making process. The information 
collection required by this rule will be used by the Agencies to 
approve and determine the need for loans and subordinations in 
accordance with this rule. The Agencies consider the information 
collected to be essential to prudent loan making decisions. Failure to 
make sound loans would joepardize the Government's loan portfolio, 
would result in large losses to both the borrower and the Government, 
and would weaken the overall agricultural economy.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 3,750.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 117,066.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1951-N, Servicing Cases Where Unauthorized Loan or 
Other Financial Assistance Was Received--Multiple Family Housing.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0104.
    Summary of Collection: Cases of unauthorized assistance are 
identified from time to time by the Office of Inspector General or 
through regular serving visits by Rural Development personnel. Rural 
Housing Service (RHS) has published its own regulation, consistent with 
the Federal Claims Act, through which it can better assist the 
recipients of RHS assistance and still adequately protect the 
Government's interest. The information collected under the provisions 
of this regulation is provided on a voluntary basis by the recipient of 
the assistance in question, although failure to cooperate in effecting 
requiring corrections to loan accounts may result in loss or reduction 
of benefits or liquidation of the loan. The information to be collected 
will primarily be financial data relating to income and expenses.
    Also, tenants who refuse to cooperate or provide information may 
lose their subsidy or tenancy.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information required by this 
regulation is collected from Multi-Family Housing borrowers (who may be 
individuals, partnerships, private or nonprofit corporations or public 
bodies) and from tenants who reside in the borrowers' rental projects. 
The collections are made from RHS borrowers on an individual case basis 
by RHS personnel. Collection from tenants is made by RHS borrowers or 
their manager employed by the borrower to manage the project. If this 
regulation is not continued, the cases involving unauthorized financial

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assistance would remain unresolved and many borrowers would keep 
financial benefits for which they did not qualify under RHS loan 
regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Farms; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 450.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 800.
Nancy Sternberg,
Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-11360 Filed 4-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M