[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67849-67852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32522]


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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. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 67849]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 2, 1998.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirements(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 emergency 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: Child Nutrition Database.
    OMB control number: 0584-New.
    Summary of collection: The Child Nutrition (CN) Database is a 
necessary component in implementation of USDA's Food and Nutrition 
Service (FNS) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast 
(SBP): School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children final rule 
published in the June 13, 1995 Federal Register, Volume 60, No. 113. 
The overriding purpose in NSLP and SBP initiatives is to serve more 
nutritious and healthful meals to school children. FNS has updated the 
regulations which established the specific nutrition criteria for 
reimbursable school meals incorporating the Recommended Dietary 
Allowances (RDA) issued by the Food and Nutrition Board, Commission on 
Life Sciences, National Research Council for key nutrients, energy 
allowances for calories, and the most current nutritional standards as 
outlined in the Dietary Guidelines. FNS will collect information using 
a database that contains information on the nutritional composition of 
a variety of foods.
    Need and use of the information: FNS will collect information on 
(1) USDA commodities; (2) USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference 
food items which are used in the SBP and NSLP; (3) quantity recipes for 
school food service developed by USDA; and (4) brand name commercially 
processed foods. The information gathered for the CN Database is 
required to be used in software programs approved by USDA for use in 
meeting the nutrient standards and nutrition goals of the Child 
Nutrition Program meal pattern. The information will be used by both 
the States and FNS program staffs.
    Description of respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of respondents: 100.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: Other (as needed).
    Total burden hours: 6,000.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: 1998 Census of Aquaculture.
    OMB control number: 0535-New.
    Summary of collection: The primary objective of the 1998 Census of 
Aquaculture is to obtain a comprehensive and detailed picture of the 
aquaculture sector of the economy. The Census of Aquaculture will be 
the only source of data comparable and consistent at the national and 
state level. The Census of Aquaculture will cover all operations in 
each state that produced or sold $1,000 or more of aquaculture or 
aquaculture products during 1998. Data from the 1998 Census of 
Aquaculture will be tabulated to provide benchmark statistics at the 
U.S. and state levels. Authority to administer the Census of 
Aquaculture is covered by Public Law 105-113, the Census of Agriculture 
Act of 1997 (Title 7, United States Code). The National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) will collect information using survey 
questionnaires.
    Need and use of the information: NASS will collect information on 
the numbers of operations, land and water acreage, method of 
production, total production, sales outlets and sales by aquaculture 
species. The Census of Aquaculture provides the only source of 
comparable, detailed state level data descriptive of the structure of 
the aquacultural production sector of the United States economy. Census 
data are used by the United States economy. Census data are used by the 
Administration, Federal agencies, and Congress to formulate and 
evaluate national aquaculture policies and programs. Without the Census 
of Aquaculture, there would be no reliable source of data consistent 
for all 50 states.
    Description of respondents: Farms.
    Number of respondents: 4,800.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: Other (One-time only).
    Total burden hours: 2,400.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by November 20, 1998.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Disaster Reserve Flood Compensation Program (7 CFR 1439).
    OMB control number: 0560-New.
    Summary of collection: Under Section 813 of the Agriculture Act of 
1970 (7 U.S.C. 1427a) and S. Con. Res. 63, the Secretary of Agriculture 
is authorized to utilize the $12 million remaining from the sale of 
commodities held in the disaster reserve to compensate eligible 
producers affected by long-term flooding of agriculture land. The 
program will provide payments to livestock producers with land that is

[[Page 67850]]

inaccessible or incapable of crop production, grazing, or haying at any 
time during the 1998 fiscal year due to flooding. The eligible land 
must be physically located in counties that have been declared a 
disaster under a Presidential Declaration or Secretarial Designation 
during the period January 1, 1997 through August 1, 1998. The Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using form CCC-454, Flood 
Compensation Program.
    Need and use of the information: FSA will collect information to 
determine eligible producers who are currently engaged in the 
production of livestock in any of the years 1992-1997; determine 
eligible livestock producers who are under obligation due to a binding 
lease to make a fair market value rental payment for crop year 1998; 
and determine eligible producers who have land that is inaccessible or 
incapable of crop production, haying or grazing due to flooding in FY 
98. Eligible producers will be required to provide documents to support 
their reported disaster such as crop reports, disaster reports, photo 
copies and slides of the affected areas; form CCC-454 and a copy of 
lease agreement, if a leaseholder.
    Description of respondents: Farms; Federal Government; State, Local 
or Tribal Government.
    Number of respondents: 6,500.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total burden hours: 130.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by November 23, 1998.

Forest Service

    Title: Economic, Social, and Cultural Contributions of Livestock 
Ownership.
    OMB control number: 0596--New.
    Summary of collection: Management of federal lands is hampered in 
many cases because land managing agencies lack sufficient information 
to understand and monitor sociocultural values and changing attitudes 
toward land and resource use. Insufficient recent information of this 
type hampers efforts of the USDA Forest Service (FS) to work with small 
livestock operators who graze their cattle under permits on Forest 
Service-managed lands in northern New Mexico. Many of these permittees 
are descendants of Hispanic settlers who have farmed and ranched in the 
area for 400 years. Cultural differences and historical issues of land 
ownership and use contribute to disagreements and misunderstandings 
between the permittees and federal land managers. This pilot on the 
Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest and the 
Canjilon Ranger District of the Carson National Forest will provide 
baseline data on economic, social, and cultural contributions of 
livestock ownership to the permittees of northern New Mexico. The 
Forest Service (FS) will collect information in a pilot study using 
questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.
    Need and use of the information: FS will collect information to 
assist managers of the forest to (1) work more effectively with the 
grazing permittees by facilitating increased intercultural 
understanding and (2) to develop and update grazing allotment plans, 
especially for the two targeted districts. This information is also 
valuable in public education programs concerning the Hispanic culture 
of northern New Mexico. The results of this pilot study will contribute 
to the development of a broader study of all permittees in the Santa Fe 
and Carson National Forests.
    Description of respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of respondents: 112.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total burden hours: 364.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Wildlife Damage.
    OMB control number: 0535-0217.
    Summary of collection: The National Agricultural Statistics 
Service's (NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue current 
official state and national estimates of crop and livestock production, 
disposition, and prices. Auxiliary services, such as statistical 
consultation, data collection, summary tabulation, and analysis are 
performed for other Federal and state agencies on a reimbursable basis 
as the need arises. NASS has entered into an agreement with the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to conduct nationwide 
sample surveys of selected fruits, nut, and berry producers for the 
purpose of assessing the true incidence, extent, specific cause, and 
monetary value of agricultural product and resource losses caused by 
vertebrate wildlife. APHIS and NASS have entered into this agreement in 
direct response to specific recommendations to APHSI by the National 
Animal Damage Control Advisory Committee (NADCAC) in recognition of the 
present lack of current information available to the APHIS' Wildlife 
Service for use in strategic planning. NASS will collect information 
using a sampling survey to evaluate wildlife damage to livestock.
    Need and use of the information: NASS will collect information on 
the development of valid statistical data reflecting the percentage of 
fruit, nut, and berry growers experiencing losses of products or 
resources and the total dollar losses at the national level caused by 
vertebrate wildlife. Goals of the survey are to assess the agricultural 
community's use and name recognition of the Wildlife Service's program 
at a regional level, and provide accurate measurement of wildlife 
damage to agricultural products for use in long range planning and fund 
allocation.
    Description of respondents: Farms.
    Number of respondents: 10,400.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: Other (One time).
    Total burden hours: 2,253.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Waiver Guidance for Food Stamp Time Limits.
    OMB control number: 0584-0479.
    Summary of collection: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility 
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193 
(PRWORA) establishes a time limit for the receipt of food stamp 
benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working. The 
provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State 
agency's request, to waive the provision for any group of individuals 
if the Secretary determines ``that the area in which the individual 
resides has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent, or does not have a 
sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the individuals.'' 
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will collect information using 
waiver requests for state officials.
    Need and use of the information: FNS will collect information on 
unemployment rates of over 10 percent; number of jobs to provide 
employment to individuals and areas in which they reside. FNS will use 
the information provided by State food stamp agencies to evaluate 
whether the statutory requirements for a waiver of the food stamp time 
limit have been met.
    Description of respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal.
    Number of respondents: 44.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total burden hours: 2,000.

Forest Service

    Title: Application for the Senior Community Service Employment 
Program.
    OBM control number: 0596-0099.
    Summary of collection: The Senior Community Service Employment 
Program (SCSEP) is designed to provide part-time employment 
opportunities and training to low-income and disadvantaged persons aged 
55 or above.

[[Page 67851]]

In order for the Forest Service (FS) to establish the eligibility of 
each individual for enrollment into the program, it is necessary to 
collect income information and age data for each individual. The 
application document is the tool needed to collect this pertinent data 
and other relevant information required by the Department of Labor. The 
authority for this data collection is contained in the Federal Register 
Rules and Regulations, Section, 641.305, prepared by the Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration. The Forest Service will 
collect information using applications submitted by individuals.
    Need and use of the information: FS will collect identifying 
information from individuals as well as data on family income, age, and 
type of public assistance received. FS will use the information to 
determine eligibility for enrollment into the Senior Community Service 
Employment Program. If FS does not collect the personal income and age 
data from each person applying for the SCSEP, the FS will be unable to 
determine participant eligibility in this targeted program; will be in 
violation of the current law; and would not be able to continue as a 
sponsor of the program.
    Description of respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of respondents: 6,500.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: Other (Initial Application).
    Total burden hours: 1,083.

Office of the Secretary, White House Liaison

    Title: Advisory Committee Membership Background Information.
    OMB control number: 0505-0001.
    Summary of collection: Section 1804 of the Food and Agriculture Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281, et seq.) requires the Department to provide 
information concerning advisory committee members' principal place of 
residence, persons or companies by whom employed, and other major 
sources of income. Board members' under each program are appointed by 
the Secretary. Some of the information contained on Form AD-755 is used 
by the Department to conduct background clearances of prospective board 
members required by departmental regulations. This clearance is 
required by all committee members who are appointed by the Secretary. 
The Office of the Secretary, White House Liaison, in conjunction with 
agency personnel, will collect information using Form AD-755, Advisory 
Committee Membership Background Information.
    Need and use of the information: The Office of the Secretary, White 
House Liaison will collect information on the background of the 
nominees to make sure there are no delinquent loans to the United 
States Department of Agriculture, USDA, as well as making sure they 
have no previous record that could be a negative reflection to the 
USDA. The information obtained from the form is also used in the 
compilation of an annual report to Congress. Failure of the Department 
to provide this information would require the Secretary to terminate 
the pertinent advisory committee.
    Description of respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of respondents: 1,631.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: Monthly.
    Total burden hours: 760.5.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by December 30, 1998.

Forest Service

    Title: Disposal of Mineral Materials.
    OMB control number: 0596-0081.
    Summary of collection: The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for 
overseeing the management of National Forest System land. The Multiple-
Use Mining Act of 1955 (30 U.S.C. 601, 603, 611-615) gives the FS 
specific authority to manage the disposal of mineral materials mined 
from National Forest land. FS uses two separate forms, FS-2800-9 and 
R1-FS-2850-1, to collect detailed information on the planned mining and 
disposal operations as well as a contract for the sale of mineral 
materials.
    Need and use of the information: FS will use information collected 
from the public to ensure that environmental impacts of mineral 
material disposal are minimized. A review of the operating plan 
provides the authorized officer the opportunity to determine if the 
proposed operation is appropriate and consistent with all applicable 
land management laws and regulations. The information also provides the 
means of documenting planned operations and the terms and conditions 
that the Forest Service deems necessary to protect surface resources.
    Description of respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households.
    Number of respondents: 3,000.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total burden hours: 7,500.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Year 2000 Survey.
    OMB control number: 0535-New.
    Summary of collection: There is widespread concern regarding the 
Year 2000 (Y2K) technology problem. Y2K is an unprecedented issue among 
all industries including agriculture. The USDA's Y2K Food Supply 
Working Group is leading an effort to evaluate the Y2K readiness of the 
agricultural industry. The National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) has been asked to assist by providing an assessment of the 
awareness and preparation by the agricultural production sector for the 
year 2000. NASS will collect information from farm operators about 
their Y2K awareness and readiness using a telephone survey.
    Need and use of the information: NASS will collect information on 
the impact of the year 2000 problem on the food industry in general-
from farm to fork; description of the Department's Year 2000 outreach 
program; and an assessment of the general preparedness of the food 
industry to continue uninterrupted business despite the century date 
change.
    Description of respondents: Farms.
    Number of respondents: 1,300.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: Other (One time only).
    Total burden hours: 325.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by December 8, 1998.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Census of Agriculture--American Samoa.
    OMB control number: 0535-0226.
    Summary of collection: The census of agriculture is the only source 
of agricultural data comparable and consistent at the national, state 
and country or county-equivalent levels for the United States and four 
territories/commonwealths. The census of agriculture, conducted on a 5-
year cycle, covers all agricultural operations in each state, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that meet the farm 
definition. Authority to administer the census of agriculture was 
transferred from the Bureau of Census to the USDA's National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The information collection is 
being resubmitted as an emergency submission to obtain approval to 
conduct an agricultural census in American Samoa beginning in January 
1999. In addition to the census of commercial agricultural operations, 
a sample of all American Samoa residences will be surveyed to determine 
the extent of subsistence farming on the island. Representatives of the 
U.S. Department of Interior and the Government of American Samoa

[[Page 67852]]

recently approached NASS to request that an agriculture census and a 
survey of residences covering 1998 be conducted in American Samoa, and 
that subsequently, American Samoa be included in the 5-year agriculture 
census cycle. NASS will collect information using a survey of the 
American Samoa residences.
    Need and use of the information: NASS will collect information on 
the number and type of farms, land use, crop acreage and production, 
livestock inventory and sales production expenses, farm-related income, 
and other characteristics. The data will be used by the Administration, 
Federal agencies, and Congress to formulate and evaluate national farm 
and rural policies and programs, and by the USDA and Bureau of Economic 
Analysis to compile the farm sector economic indicators and the 
national income accounts. Without the census of agriculture, there 
would be no reliable source of data consistent throughout the 50 states 
and over 3,000 counties in the United States.
    Description of respondents: Farms, Individuals or households.
    Number of respondents: 3,589,580.
    Frequency of responses: Reporting: Other (One time only).
    Total burden hours: 1,320,705.
    Emergency approval for this information collection has been 
requested by December 11, 1998.
Nancy Sternberg,
Departmental Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-32522 Filed 12-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M