[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52232-52235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26090]


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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. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 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, 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, 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.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Papaya, Carambola, and Litchi from Hawaii.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0123.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from 
spreading within the United States. The Plant Quarantine Act authorizes 
the Department to carry out this mission. Chapter 8 of the Plant 
Quarantine Act (7 U.S.C. 161) provides authority for the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
to quarantine any State, Territory, or District of the United States to 
prevent the spread of plant diseases and insect pests (such as fruit 
flies) new or widely distributed throughout the United States. APHIS 
regulates the interstate movement of fruits and vegetables from Hawaii 
to prevent the spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly, the melon fly, 
the Oriental fruit fly, and the Malaysian fruit fly, pests that occur 
in Hawaii and can cause millions of dollars in damage to U.S. 
agriculture. APHIS will collect information using several forms to 
ensure fruits from Hawaii are free from pests and disease.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
using forms PPQ 540, PPQ 530, PPQ 519 to ensure abui, atemoya, bananas, 
longan, rambutan, sapodilla, and durian from Hawaii are brought safely 
into the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 426.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 997.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Gypsy Moth Identification Worksheet.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0104.
    Summary of Collection: The Department of Agriculture is responsible 
for preventing plant diseases or insect pests (such as Gypsy Moth) from 
entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests not widely 
distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests 
when eradication is feasible. The Plant Quarantine Act and the Federal 
Plant Pest Act authorize the Department to carry out this mission. The 
Plant Protection and Quarantine Service (PPQ) of the Animal and Plant 
Health Protection Service (APHIS), engages in detection surveys to 
monitor for the presence of the European Gypsy moth and the Asian Gypsy 
moth. The European Gypsy moth is one of the most destructive pests of 
shade, fruit, and ornamental trees as well as hardwood forests. The 
Asian Gypsy moth is an exotic strain of Gypsy moth that is closely 
related to the European variety already established in the United 
States. In order to determine the presence and extent of a European 
gypsy moth or an Asian gypsy moth, traps are set in high risk areas to 
collect specimens. APHIS will collect information using the Gypsy Moth 
Identification Worksheet to monitor, detect, and eradicate gypsy moth 
infestations.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS collects information from 
the worksheet that includes the name of the submitter, the submitter's 
agency, the date collected, the trap number, the trap's location 
(including the nearest port of entry), the number of specimens in the 
trap, and the date the specimen was sent to the laboratory. The 
worksheet enables both Federal and State regulatory officials to 
identify and track specific specimens through the DNA identification 
tests that are conducted.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 120.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 18.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: FS Redemption Certificate.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0085.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Stamp Act of 1977 requires the 
Department of Agriculture to issue regulations that provide for the 
redemption of coupons accepted by retail food stores through approved 
wholesale food concerns or through insured financial institutions. Food 
and Nutrition Service (FNS) will provide authorized retail stores and 
wholesale food concerns with redemption certificates. The Redemption 
Certificate and Wholesaler Redemption Certificate (RCs) are used by all 
authorized

[[Page 52233]]

wholesalers or retailers when depositing food stamp coupons, and are 
processed by financial institutions when they are presented for credit 
or for cash. The issuance of food stamp benefits through the Electronic 
Benefit Transfer (EBT) system is replacing the issuance of food 
coupons. FNS will collect information using form FCS-278B.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information on 
the verification of the amount of coupons forwarded to the bank for 
redemption. RCs are distributed to each authorized retailer or 
wholesaler by FNS for completion. FNS uses the deposit information from 
the RC to monitor (1) deposits by retailer and wholesale food concerns, 
and (2) for store monitoring and compliance purposes.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 510,470.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 325,483.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 319 (Docket No. 97-107-1) Importation of Fruits 
and Vegetables.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant diseases or insect pests from 
entering the United States. The Plant Protection Quarantine Act and the 
Federal Plant Pest Act authorizes the Department and the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to carry out this mission. 
Implementing the laws is necessary to prevent injurious insect pest and 
plant diseases from entering the United States, a situation that could 
produce serious consequences for U.S. agriculture. APHIS is publishing 
a proposed rule (97-107-1) that would recognize a number of fruits and 
vegetables from certain parts of the world as eligible (under specified 
conditions) for importation into the United States. These would include 
cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and watermelon from Brazil and Venezuela. 
All fruits and vegetables would be inspected and subject to 
disinfection at their first port of arrival in the United States. APHIS 
will use several forms to collect information for the safe importation 
of fruits and vegetables.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from permit applications to determine if the fruits meet their 
requirements for importation and also this enables them to evaluate 
potential risks associated with the proposed movement of these fruits 
and vegetables into the United States. The information is used 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; 
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 32.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,209.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 340 Introduction of Organisms and Products 
Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which are Plant Pests 
or Which There is Reason to Believe are Plant Pests.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0085.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) is charged with preventing the introduction into, and 
dissemination and establishment of plant pests in the United States. 
The statutory requirements for the information collection activity are 
found in the Federal Plant Pest Act (FPPA) and the Plant Quarantine Act 
(PQA). The regulations in 7 CFR part 340 implement the provisions of 
the FPPA and PQA by providing the information necessary to establish 
conditions for proposed introductions of certain genetically engineered 
organisms and products which present a risk of plant pest introduction. 
APHIS will collect information using APHIS Form 2000.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
ensure that certain genetically engineered organisms, when imported, 
moved interstate, or released into the environment, will not present 
risk of plant pest introduction. The information collected through the 
petition process is used to determine whether a genetically engineered 
organism will pose a risk to agriculture or the environment if grown in 
the absence of regulation by APHIS. The information is also provided to 
State departments of agriculture for review, and made available to the 
public and private sectors on the Internet to ensure that all sectors 
are kept informed concerning any potential risks posed through the use 
of genetic engineering technology.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Government; Not-for-profit institutions; .
    Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,176.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Disaster Assistance--General (7 CFR Part 1945-A).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0170.
    Summary of Collection: Subtitle C of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act of 1972, as amended, authorizes emergency loss 
(EM) loans for the purpose of assisting farmers and ranchers who have 
suffered weather-related physical or production losses in areas 
declared by the President, designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, 
or named for physical loss loans by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
Administrator. For EM production loss loans, applicants must show a 30 
percent loss in at least one basic farming enterprise. For physical 
losses, applicants must show that the property damaged or destroyed is 
essential to the continued operation of the farming or ranching 
operations. Applicants must be unable to obtain commercial credit or 
recover from the disaster and meet other specific eligibility and 
repayment requirements. FSA will collect information to evaluate 
requests for a Secretarial natural disaster designation.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information on 
determining whether sufficient losses have been suffered to warrant a 
Secretarial natural disaster designation, determine whether extenuating 
circumstances exist to grant a natural disaster designation under the 
Secretary's discretionary authority. The information will be used by 
FSA to process State Governor requests for Secretarial natural disaster 
designations.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,960.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,230.

Food Safety Inspection Service

    Title: Food Supply Working Group Partnerships.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The President's Council on Year 2000 
Conversion, established on February 4, 1998 by Executive Order 13073, 
is responsible for coordinating the Federal Government's efforts to 
address the year 2000 problem. The Council has created approximately 
three dozen working groups to help U.S. economic or public sectors 
address Year 2000 computer problems. In late May, the Food Supply 
Working Group was created and asked to assume the lead for the sector 
involved in producing and distributing the nation's food supply. The 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has

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been charged with chairing this group. The goal of the Food Supply 
Working Group is to raise the level of Year 2000 problem awareness 
(Y2K) among those who have a stake in an uninterrupted food supply. It 
is the working group's aim to ensure that these organizational groups 
understand the importance of early action, and that they know where 
they can get assistance in finding appropriate solutions. The strategy 
of the Food Supply Working Group involves a combination of awareness 
and assessment outreach. The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will 
collect information through phone conversations and consultations with 
food sector trade and membership organizations.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Food Supply Working Group will 
collect information from sector groups to determine their willingness 
to form partnerships with senior leaders of the Department of 
Agriculture to promote public and private sector action on the Y2K 
problem. The respondents will also be asked if they have conducted a 
Y2K awareness/assessment survey of their membership and if they would 
share the results with the Food Supply Working Group. The information 
will be invaluable in determining what assessment work has already been 
completed in order to avoid duplication and what areas need further 
work.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 33.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by September 25, 1998.

National Appeals Division

    Title: National Appeals Division Customer Service Survey.
    OMB Control Number: NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The National Appeals Division (NAD) proposes 
to conduct a customer service survey by mail pursuant to Executive 
Order No. 12862. The NAD of the Department of Agriculture was 
established by the Secretary of Agriculture on October 20, 1994, by 
Secretary's Memorandum 1010-1, pursuant to the Federal Crop Insurance 
Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. The 
Act consolidated the appellate functions of five USDA agencies and 
provided for the independent hearing and review of adverse decisions of 
various USDA agencies. Hearing officers conduct evidentiary hearings on 
adverse decisions or, when an appellant requests, they review the 
agency's record of the adverse decision without a hearing. Although NAD 
maintains a database to track appeal requests, the database contains 
only that information necessary to process the appeal request, such as 
names, address, filing dates, final results etc. NAD will collect 
information using a survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: NAD will collect information to 
evaluate the locations of appeal hearing sits and gauge the appellants' 
preference for face-to-face or telephone hearings, the perception of 
the fairness of the appeal process itself; how the hearing was 
conducted, how impartial was the proceeding, how understandable the 
final determination. The results of the annual survey will be used by 
NAD managers to set Customer Service Standards and make adjustments and 
improvements to NAD processes, including location of appeal hearing, 
use of teleconferences for appeal hearing sand the clarity of NAD 
notices and determinations.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local 
or Tribe Government.
    Number of Respondents: 210.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 52.5.

Economic Research Service

    Title: Survey of Multifamily Rental Housing Funded through USDA's 
Rural Rental Housing Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0536-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
Economic Research Service (ERS) has the responsibility for providing 
social and economic intelligence on changing rural housing needs in the 
United States and the relationship between Federal housing assistance 
policies and rural development. Housing has a major influence on the 
quality of life of rural residents, and is an important focus of the 
Department's rural economic development efforts. USDA's Section 515 
Rural Rental Housing Program provides affordable rental housing to very 
low-, low-, and moderate-income rural families, including the elderly 
and the disabled. The program, administered by USDA's Rural Housing 
Service, employs a public-private partnership by providing loans to 
developers to construct or renovate modest-cost rental complexes in 
rural areas. The loans are direct, competitive mortgage loans made to 
individuals, partnership, for-profit corporations, nonprofit 
organizations, public agencies, and others to provide affordable 
multifamily rental housing in rural areas. Tenants pay basic rent or 30 
percent of adjusted income, whichever is greater. ERS will collect 
information from property managers on issues related to the 
availability of adequate and affordable rental housing for low-income 
rural residents using a survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: The data ERS will collect will 
enhance the agency's ability to answer questions related to the supply 
and demand for rental housing in rural areas, particularly for low-
income residents, and to assess the operation, use, and effectiveness 
of USDA rural rental assistance programs. The data collected from 
property managers overseeing the Rural Rental Housing Program will 
enable ERS to provide information to the Administration, USDA, and the 
Congress on the design and efficacy of public policies and programs 
aimed at fostering economic development in rural areas.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; individual 
or households; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,750.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 578.

Food Nutrition Service

    Title: Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition (FNS), U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, has contracted with Health Systems Research, 
Inc. and Research Triangle Institute to conduct a survey with the 
Directors of the State Sponsoring Agencies who administer and manage 
the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP) in their state (may 
be called Food Nutrition Program). The purpose of the survey is to 
inform the FNS of what activities took place in each state's FSNEP 
during Fiscal Year. FNS will collect information using a survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information from 
data abstracted from State National Education Plan documents and data 
gathered during mail and telephone surveys of State FSNEP officials. 
The information gathered in the study will be compiled into a Microsoft 
Access 2.0 database, a final report and a presentation to FNS of study 
findings. The database will be created so that FNS can update it after 
this project ends and use it to generate informative reports about the 
FSNEPs.
    Desriptions of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local, or Tribal Government.

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    Number of Respondents: 152.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
    Total Burden Hours: 247.
Nancy Sternberg,
Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-26090 Filed 9-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M