[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 52 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13393-13394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6419]


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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. 64, No. 52 / Thursday, March 18, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 13393]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 12, 1999.
    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, 
DC 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.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Request for Vessel Approval.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0008.
    Summary of Collection: Title I of the Agricultural Trade 
Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (Public Law 480, 83rd Congress, 
as amended) provides for U.S. government financing of sales of U.S. 
agricultural commodities to recipients (foreign countries or private 
entities). In accordance with the law, an agreement providing for long-
term credit financing is first negotiated with the recipient through 
diplomatic channels. Within the U.S. government, the Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
the agency responsible for administering Public Law 480, Title I 
(``Title I'') agreements. After an agreement has been signed, the 
recipient applies to FAS for authorization to purchase each commodity 
provided in the agreement. A purchase authorization is issued which 
provides for financing of commodity sales by the Commodity Credit 
Corporation. The recipient then purchases the commodity for delivery at 
U.S. ports and arranges for ocean transportation. The recipient must 
send the pertinent terms of all proposed ocean freight contracts, 
regardless of whether any portion of the ocean freight is financed by 
CCC, to FAS for review and approval before the vessel is ``fixed'' 
(i.e., contracted). FAS will collect information using form CCC-105, 
``Request for Vessel Approval''.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information on 
the ocean freight contract. The information is needed to insure that 
Title I recipient comply with the requirement that U.S.-flag vessels 
carry 75 percent of the tonnage shipped under this program. The 
information is used by FAS to ensure that program recipients comply 
with Public Law 664 (Cargo Preference Act) and the Merchant Marine Act 
of 1936, as amended. FAS also uses the information to prepare Form CCC-
106, ``Advice of Vessel Approval,'' which specifies what part of the 
ocean freight rate will be financed by the CCC.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 11.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 25.

Rural Development

    Title: 7 CFR 1901-K, ``Certificates of Beneficial Ownership and 
Insured Notes''.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0064.
    Summary of Collection: This regulation is currently shared by the 
Rural Housing Service (RHS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Rural 
Business Service (RBS) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and is 
administered under the provisions of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (CONACT) as amended. FSA's Farm Loan Program (FLP) 
provides supervised credit in the form of loans to family farmers and 
ranchers to purchase land and finance agricultural production. RHS 
provides supervised credit in the form of Multi-Family Housing (MFH) 
loans and Community Facility (CF) loans. The MFH loan program provides 
eligible persons with rental or cooperative housing pursuant to the 
Housing Act of 1949. RBS provides supervised credit in the form of 
direct loans to businesses in rural areas. In the past, these agencies 
financed the lending activity of their respective insurance funds 
through the sale of insured notes, insurance contracts, and 
Certificates of Beneficial Ownership (CBO) to the Federal Financing 
Bank and the public. Although this practice has been modified 
significantly and sales to the public of this type no longer occur, the 
agencies must still service outstanding certificates of beneficial 
ownership, insurance contracts, and ensured notes. Information will be 
collected, as appropriate, to process the sale of insured notes, 
assignment of CBO's, death of certificate owners, or the loss, theft, 
or destruction of a note or CBO. Rural Development (RD) will collect 
information using form RD 471-7.
    Need and Use of the Information: RD will collect information on the 
name and address of seller; name and address of buyer; date of sale; 
amount and date of original debt instrument; name of rural development 
borrower and case number on an as needed basis. Failure by RD to 
monitor Certificates of Beneficial Ownership (CBO) sales and transfers 
could possibly lead to noncompliance with statutory intent. The 
agencies keep information collection requirements to a minimum but must 
monitor CBO sales and transfer

[[Page 13394]]

consistent with sound financial management practices.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 98.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 62.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: Annual Survey of Housing Conditions for Migrant and Seasonal 
Farmworkers.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are among 
the poorest and worst-housed groups in the United States. Only limited 
information has been collected on farmworker demographics and working 
conditions, and even less on the housing in which they live. The Rural 
Housing Service (RHS) plans to conduct a survey to collect data on the 
housing conditions of farmworkers in the Midwestern and Western migrant 
streams including types of structures occupied, proportion of 
households crowded, proportion of households cost burdened, proportion 
lacking full appliances and sanitary facilities, proportion residing in 
grower-provided housing, and other characteristics. In combination with 
a previous study of migrant workers in the East Coast, a national 
perspective on housing conditions for migrant and seasonal farmworkers 
will be gained. More detailed information concerning farmworker housing 
conditions is necessary in order to determine the significant health 
risks associated with farmworker housing and effectively focus housing 
resources on the areas of greatest need. The collection of housing data 
will greatly benefit farmworkers by improving the information available 
to organizations and federal agencies that address farmworker health 
and housing needs. The Rural Housing Service will collect information 
using a survey on Farmworker Housing.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information on 
the types of housing occupied by farmworkers, the quality of that 
housing, its cost, and whether or not overcrowding is prevalent in 
farmworkers housing. The data collected will be used to improve how 
farmworker housing and health programs are used so that farmworkers' 
needs may be better met by the government and private organizations.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,500.
Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-6419 Filed 3-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M