[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30467-30470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14857]


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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 / Thursday, June 4, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 29, 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.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Fruits, Nut, and Specialty Corps.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0039.
    Summary of Collection: U.S. Code title 7, Section 2204, specifies 
that ``The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all 
information concerning agriculture which he can obtain by the 
collection of statistics * * * and shall distribute them among 
agriculturists. The primary function of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current official 
state and national estimates of crop and livestock production. 
Estimates of fruit, tree nuts, and specialty crops are an integral part 
of this program. These estimates support the NASS strategic plan to 
annually cover 99 percent of all agricultural receipts. Information is 
collected on a voluntary basis from growers, processors, and handlers 
through surveys.
    Need and Use of the Information: Data reported on fruit, nut, and 
Hawaii tropical crops are used by NASS to estimate acreage, yield, 
production, utilization, and crop value in states with significant 
commercial production. These estimates are essential to farmers, 
processors, and handlers in making production and marketing decisions. 
Estimates from these inquiries are used by market order administrators 
in their determination of expected supplies of crop under federal and 
state market orders as well as competitive fruits and nuts.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 40,968.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 14,137.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    Title: Grant Application Forms for the Small Business Innovation 
Research Grants Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0025.
    Summary of Collection: In 1982, the Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) Grants Program was authorized by Public Law 97-219, and 
in 1992, reauthorized through October 1, 2000, by Public Law 102-564. 
This legislation requires each Federal agency with a research and 
research and development budget in excess of $100 million to establish 
an SBIR program. The objectives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES) SBIR Program are to stimulate technological innovation in the 
private sector, strengthen the role of small businesses in meeting 
Federal research and development needs, increase private sector 
commercialization of innovations derived from USDA-supported research 
and developments efforts, and foster and encourage participation by 
women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged small business 
firms in technological innovation. USDA conducts its SBIR Program 
through the use of grants awards and these grants are administered by 
the Grants Management Branch, CSREES. Each year, USDA issues an SBIR 
Program Solicitation requesting Phase I proposals. These proposals are 
evaluated by peer review panels and awarded on a competitive basis. The 
SBIR Program Solicitation requests that applicants submit proposals 
following the format outlined in the SBA Policy Directive.
    Need and Use of the Information: CSREES uses forms CSREES-667, 
``Proposal Cover Sheet'' and CSREES-688, ``Project Summary'', to 
collected recordkeeping data, required certifications, and information 
used to respond to inquiries from Congress, other Government agencies, 
and the grantee community concerning grant projects supported by the 
USDA SBIR Program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 480.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,920.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

    Title: Rural Abandoned Mine Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0578-0019.
    Summary of Collection: Section 406 of the Surface Mining Control 
and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-87, 91 Stat. 460, as amended, 
30 U.S.C. 1236) directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to formulate and carry out a 
Rural Abandoned Mine Program (RAMP)

[[Page 30468]]

during the 1977-2000 calendar years. This program authorizes federal 
technical and financial long term cost sharing assistance for 
conservation treatment with eligible land users. The financial 
assistance is based on a conservation plan for reclamation which is 
made a part of an agreement or contract for a 5 to 10 year period of 
time. Under the terms of the agreement, the participant agrees to 
apply, or arrange to apply, the conservation treatment specified in the 
conservation plan. In return for this agreement, federal cost-share 
payments are made to the land user, or third party, upon successful 
application of the conservation treatment. Forms are used to collect 
information from program applicants and to establish legal contracts 
for program participants.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected on RAMP 
forms is obtained from RAMP participants manually for use by NRCS. The 
information is used by NRCS to review landowner applications for 
assistance, evaluate and record progress on applying conservation 
practices, and to monitor compliance with the RAMP provisions.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 400.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting.
    Total Burden Hours: 223.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1421--General Regulations Governing Loans for 
1996 and Subsequent Corps.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0087.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency is authorized by the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act), 
to make commodity loans for certain commodities to eligible producers. 
Producers requesting Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodity loans 
must meet eligibility requirements which are basic to all commodity 
loan programs. These requirements are needed to insure the integrity of 
the loan program and that only eligible producers receive the benefits 
of the loan program. FSA will collect information on commodity type, 
quantity of commodity, storage, location, liens on the commodity, etc., 
through the use of a variety of forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA County Committees are 
responsible for administration of the CCC loan program. The committees 
use the information collected on the forms to determine eligibility of 
participants to receive loan benefits. Information is also used to 
determine cases of noncompliance with the regulations governing the 
loan program. Furnishing this data is voluntary. However, without it, 
assistance under the CCC loan program cannot be provided.
    Description of Respondents: Farm.
    Number of Respondents: 364,240.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 438,732.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Report Forms Under Milk Marketing Order Programs (From Milk 
Handlers and Milk Marketing Cooperative).
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0032.
    Summary of Collection: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
oversees the administration of Federal Milk Marketing Orders authorized 
by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended. The 
Federal Milk Marketing Order regulations require that handlers of milk 
report in detail the receipt and utilization of milk and milk products 
handled at each of their plants that are regulated by a Federal Order. 
The Report of Receipts and Utilization and the Producer Payroll Report 
are completed by regulated milk handlers and milk marketing cooperative 
and are the principal reporting forms needed to administer the 31 
Federal milk marketing orders.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information will be collected 
through the use of several forms and reports by the market 
administrator. The forms are used to establish the quality of milk 
received by handlers, the pooling status of the handlers, the class-use 
of the milk used by the handler and the butterfat content and amounts 
of other components of the milk. The data also allows AMS to administer 
the classified pricing system and related requirements of each Federal 
order.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 772.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly; Semi-annually; Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 23,858.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 70, Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Poultry 
Products and Rabbit Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0127.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 
Stat. 1087-1091, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA) directs and 
authorizes the Department to develop standards of quality, grades, 
grading programs, and services to enable a more orderly marketing of 
agricultural products so trading may be facilitated and so consumers 
may be able to obtain products graded and identified under USDA 
programs. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) carries out 
regulations which provide a voluntary program for grading poultry and 
rabbit products. Because this is a voluntary program, respondents need 
to request or apply for the specific services they wish, and in doing 
so, they provide information. Since the AMA requires that the cost of 
the service be assessed and collected, there is no alternative but to 
provide voluntary programs on a fee for service basis and to collect 
the information needed to establish the cost.
    Need and Use of the Information: Since the Agricultural Marketing 
Service does not know what the respondents' wishes or needs are until 
asked, there is no other choice but to have the respondents request or 
ask for the specific services or benefits they wish. AMS only requests 
the information necessary to efficiently make arrangement for the types 
of service requested, assure service is provided, and to administer the 
program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal 
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 399.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Semi-annually; 
Monthly; Annually; Other (Daily).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,889.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    Title: Application Kit.
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0022.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), Cooperative State Research Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES) administers several competitive, peer-reviewed research, 
education, and extension programs, under which awards of a high-
priority nature are made. These programs are authorized pursuant to the 
authorities contained in the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101), the Smith-
Lever Act, and various, other legislative authorities. Before grants 
can be awarded, certain information is required from applicants as part 
of an overall package. In addition to a project summary, proposal 
narrative, and other pertinent technical aspects of the proposed 
project, supporting documentation of an administrative and budgetary 
nature also must be provided. Because the

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proposals submitted are competitive in nature and necessitate review by 
peer panelists, it is particularly important that applicants provide 
the information in a standardized fashion to ensure equitable treatment 
for all.
    Need and Use of the Information: CSREES will collect information on 
USDA data, program summary and narrative, credentials and budget, for 
the research, education, and extension program. The information will be 
used to respond to inquiries from Congress, other governmental 
agencies, and the grantee community.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Federal Government; 
State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 8,900.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 136,450.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0125.
    Summary of Collection: Collection and dissemination of animal 
health data and information is mandated by 7 U.S.C. 391, the Animal 
Industry Act of 1884, which established the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS). The mission of 
APHIS, Veterinary Service is to protect and improve the health, quality 
and marketability of our Nation's animals and animal products by 
preventing, controlling, and monitoring animal diseases. During the 
past 2 years a severe form of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory 
Syndrome (PRRS) has appeared in the United States. APHIS will collect 
information on acute PRRS through a survey and other forms to establish 
the extent of the disease and gather more specific herd data.
    Need and Use of the Information: Because of the recent increase in 
cases of the acute PRRS, it is imperative that data on management 
practices and environmental conditions, along with blood and tissue 
samples continue to be collected and analyzed. Analysis can identify 
the transmission mechanism and provide a means to prevent disease 
spread to other herds and states. The collection of information will be 
used to identify management risk factors that exist in higher 
proportion in affected herds than in noninfected herds, once all the 
data is collected, analyzed and put into databases.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 107.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 449.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Grapefruit, Lemons, and Oranges from 
Argentina--Docket No. 97-110-1.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-New.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Plant Pest Act authorizes the 
Department of Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) to prevent plant diseases or insect pests from entering 
the United States, preventing the spread of pest not widely distributed 
in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests when 
eradication is feasible. Section 150bb of the Federal Plant Pest Act (7 
USC 150aa-150jj) provides that no plant pest can be moved from a 
foreign country into or through the United States, or interstate, 
unless the movement is authorized under a permit issued by the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the movement is carried out in accordance 
with the conditions the Secretary may prescribe to prevent the 
dissemination of plant pests into the United States. APHIS will use a 
number of forms, including permits and foreign phytosanitary 
certificates to collect information to ensure that grapefruits, lemons, 
and oranges from Argentina meet the necessary conditions and 
requirements for importation into the United States and do not pose a 
threat of introducing or spreading plant diseases or insect pests that 
could cause significant harm to American agriculture.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from permit applications to determine if the fruit being imported from 
Argentina meets the requirements. This information will also enable 
APHIS to evaluate potential risks associated with the proposed movement 
of grapefruits lemons, and oranges into the United States. APHIS will 
use the information to determine whether a permit can be issued, and 
also to develop risk-mitigating conditions for the proposed movement.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farms; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 470.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden hours: 715.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Export Fruit Acts.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0143.
    Summary of Collection: Fresh apples, pears, and grapes grown in the 
United States shipped to any foreign destination must meet certain 
minimum quality and other requirements established by regulations 
issued under the Export Apple and Pear Act [7 CFR Part 33] and the 
Export Grape and Plum Act [7 CFR Part 35], hereinafter referred to as 
the Acts. The regulations issued under the Acts [33.11 for apples and 
pears, and 35.12 for grapes] requires that the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
officially inspect and certify that each shipment of fresh apples, 
pears, and grapes is in compliance with all pertinent regulatory 
requirements effective under the Acts. AMS will collect information 
from persons who ship fresh apples, pears, and grapes grown in the 
United States to foreign destinations from inspections certificates and 
phytosanitary inspection certificates.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS marketing specialists will 
collect information from certificates relating to the shipment, 
including the quantity shipped, date shipped, vessel identification, 
and intended foreign destination of fruit. The marketing specialists 
also obtain the names and addresses of freight forwarders and export 
carriers from port authorities at the ports they plan to contact. The 
marketing specialists contact those export carriers which exported 
apples, pears and grapes during the past season, and review their fruit 
shipment files to determine if they have filed the inspection 
certificates as required, and that the fruit met the requisite 
requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 115.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,204.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

    Title: American Heritage Rivers Initiative.
    OMB Control Number: 0578-New.
    Summary of Collection: The Natural Resource Conservation Service 
(NRCS) and the team of Federal agency representatives responsible for 
developing a symposium for all 126 applicants to the American Heritage 
Rivers (AHR) Initiative, would like to assure that they meet the 
specific needs of the applicants. NRCS will collect

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information using a one page questionnaire that will ask applicants to 
provide input so that the symposium will better meet their specific 
needs in order to implement their AHR plans. More specifically, they 
will be asked to select the preferred dates for the symposium (weekend 
or weekday dates). This will allow President Clinton to announce the 
dates of the symposium in mid-June, when he announces the ten AHR 
nominations to receive designation this year.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information that NRCS collects 
from the AHR applicants that choose to respond, will be used only by 
the symposium planning team. Based on the applicants responses the team 
will then develop an agenda that includes topics of specific interest, 
tools and information that will help them complete their AHR plans.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other-for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 126.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 31.5.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by June 1, 1998.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1944-L, Tenant Grievance and Appeals Procedure.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0046.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is 
authorized, under Sections 514, 515, and 521 of the Housing Act of 
1949, to provide loans and grants to eligible recipients of the 
development of rural rental/cooperative and labor housing. Such 
multiple family housing projects are intended to meet the housing needs 
of persons or families who have moderate, low- and very-low incomes, 
senior citizens, the handicapped and domestic farm laborers. RHS is 
responsible for assuring the public that the housing projects financed 
are managed and operated as mandated by Congress. For this reason, the 
Agency implemented a grievance and appeals procedure on October 27, 
1980, for tenants, members and applicants for occupancy in multiple 
family housing financed by RHS. The procedure requires certain 
information to be collected whenever a tenant wishes to appeal adverse 
actions by owners/managers of multi-family housing project financed by 
RHS.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
to notify tenants of the reasons for the adverse actions and to 
ascertain the viewpoint of the tenant. The information is used in the 
course of trying to resolve the grievance. The consequence of not 
collecting the information is that tenants, members or applicants would 
not be able to exercise their rights provided by the Tenant Grievance 
Appeals procedure.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 360.
    Frequency of Respondents: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 83.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Servicing Cases Where Unauthorized Loan or Other Financial 
Assistance Was Received--Community and Business Programs, 7 CFR 1951-O.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0103.
    Summary of Collection: On occasion, the Rural Housing Service 
(RHS), Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS), and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) encounter cases where 
unauthorized assistance was received by a borrower or grantee for which 
there was no regulatory authorization or for which the recipient was 
not eligible. In situations where unauthorized assistance may have been 
given, the Agencies must collect certain financial information to 
assist in the determination that the assistance received was 
unauthorized.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information submitted by 
borrowers or grantees is evaluated by local Rural Development and FSA 
employees. The information is used to review the case to confirm 
whether unauthorized assistance was received and to make necessary 
account adjustments.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 14.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 12.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Dairy Production Disaster Assistance Program--7 CFR 1439.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-New.
    Summary of Collection: Under P.L. 105-174, Disaster Assistance 
Supplemental, the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund has been amended to 
appropriate $6,800,000 to implement a Dairy Production Disaster 
Assistance Program. The program will provide payments to dairy 
producers for losses of milk that had been produced but not marketed or 
for diminished production due to natural disasters designated pursuant 
to a Presidential or Secretarial declaration requested from November 
27, 1997 through May 1, 1998. The Farm Service Agency will collect 
information from dairy producers applying for assistance.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information on 
business records from producers to verify that their milk or dairy 
production losses did occur. The business record collection will be 
used by the FSA County Office personnel to determine the eligibility 
and amount of assistance in accordance with the published regulation. 
FSA considers the information collection to be essential to make 
prudent eligibility and assistance determinations and to maintain the 
credibility of such a program being administered after the losses 
occurred.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 25,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 50,000.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by June 8, 1998.
Nancy Sternberg,
Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-14857 Filed 6-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M