[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16897-16898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8607]


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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. 64, No. 66 / Wednesday, April 7, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 16897]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 2, 1999.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) the 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.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Loan Deficiency Payments.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0129.
    Summary of Collection: Loan deficiency payments are authorized by 
the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1966 (1996 Act), 
Section 135. The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation (CCC), administers the marketing assistance loan and 
loan deficiency programs. The loan deficiency payment option allows 
producers of eligible upland cotton, rice, wheat, feed grains, and 
oilseeds (marketing assistance loan commodities) to obtain loan 
deficiency payments on their eligible production instead of placing the 
commodity under a CCC marketing assistance loan. Loan deficiency 
payments are made available when the loan rate for the commodity is 
greater than the announced repayment rate or world market price, as 
applicable. An eligible producer on a farm must have: (1) complied with 
the highly erodible land requirements; (2) completed payment limitation 
eligibility requirements; (3) reported planted acres for commodities 
applicable to loan and loan deficiency payment requests; (4) met the 
applicable crop insurance requirements; (5) a share in the risk of 
producing the commodity; and (6) beneficial interests in the commodity, 
which includes control of the commodity, risk of loss, and title to the 
commodity, at the time of the loan deficiency payment request. The FSA 
will collect information using forms CCC-633 LDP, CCC-Cotton AA, and 
CCC-709.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine the eligibility, applicable payments rates, quantities, and 
payment amount of participants to receive loan deficiency payments. 
They will also use the information to determine cases of noncompliance 
with the regulations governing the loan deficiency payment program. 
Furnishing the data is voluntary. However, without it, assistance under 
the CCC loan deficiency payment program cannot be provided.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 600,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,117,500.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons who have 
Died, Disappeared or have been Declared Incompetent.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0026.
    Summary of Collection: Representatives or survivors of producers 
who die, disappear, or are declared incompetent must be afforded a 
method of obtaining any payment intended for the producer as stipulated 
in 7 CFR 707. It is necessary to collect information recorded on FSA-
325 in order to determine whether representatives or survivors of a 
producer are entitled to receive payments earned by a producer who 
dies, disappears, or is declared incompetent before receiving the 
payments. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using 
form FSA-315.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine eligibility for representatives or survivors to receive 
payment of amounts due persons who have died, disappeared, or have been 
declared incompetent.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; business or 
other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: other (when necessary).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,500.

Forest Service

    Title: Smith River National Recreation Area.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0138.
    Summary of Collection: The Smith River National Recreation Area 
(NRA) was established by the Smith River National Recreation Area Act 
of 1990. Section 8(d) of the Act directed the Secretary of Agriculture 
to promulgate supplementary mineral regulations to ensure ``* * * the 
preservation, protection, enhancement, and interpretation for present 
and future generations of the Smith River Watershed's outstanding wild 
and scenic rivers, ecological diversity, and recreation opportunities 
while providing for the wise use and sustained

[[Page 16898]]

productivity of its natural resources. Some of the lands within the NRA 
fall under the purview of the United States mining laws of 1872, as 
amended, which governs the prospecting for and appropriation of 
metallic and most nonmetallic minerals. This law provides individuals 
the right to search for and extract valuable locatable minerals and 
secure title to the lands involved. A prospector, upon discovering a 
valuable mineral deposit, may locate a mining claim. Recording that 
claim in the local courthouse, and with the appropriate BLM State 
Office, affords the mining claimant protection from subsequent 
locators. A mining claimant is then entitled to reasonable access to 
the claim for further prospecting, mining or necessary related 
activities, subject to other laws and applicable regulations. The 
Forest Service (FS) will collect information using the Plan of 
Operations Form FS-2800-5 or whatever format or medium that the 
operator chooses to process request to mine on federally-owned and/or 
managed lands.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on the 
name and legal mailing address of the operator, owner, and any lessees, 
assigns, and designees; copy of the deed/legal instrument that conveyed 
the outstanding mineral rights; sketches/maps of the outstanding 
mineral rights location, the proposed area of operations, existing/
proposed roads or access routes, any new proposed road construction, 
and the approximate location and size of the areas to be disturbed 
including existing or proposed structures, facilities, and other 
improvements; description of the type of operation which includes a 
list of the type, size, location, and number of structures, facilities, 
and other improvements. etc. The collection of this information is 
necessary to ensure the continued stability of the area surrounding the 
mining site and to monitor the mining operation.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 40.
Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-8607 Filed 4-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M