[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36838-36840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17255]


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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. 130 / Thursday, July 8, 1999 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 1, 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, 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.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Demand Side Management and Integrated Resource Plan.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0105.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Loan Restructuring 
Act of 1993, Public Law 103-129, (RELRA), signed into law by President 
Clinton on November 1, 1993, amended the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq (RE Act) to permit the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make loans for Demand Side Management (DSM), energy 
conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy 
systems. DSM and energy conservation programs have become increasingly 
important to electric utilities as they seek ways to make their 
existing systems more efficient and reduce the need for new capacity. 
RUS will collect information using an RUS-approved integrated resource 
plan (IRP) and the loan application.
    Need and Use the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine the eligibility of applicants for loans and loan guarantees 
under the RE Act; monitor the compliance of borrowers with debt 
covenants and regulatory requirements in order to protect loan 
security; ensure that borrowers use loan funds for purposes consistent 
with the statutory goals of the RE Act; and obtain information on the 
progress of rural electrification, as required by the RE Act.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 3.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 24.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Stock Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0007.
    Summalry of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics 
Service's primary function is to prepare and issue current official 
State and National estimates of crop and livestock production. As part 
of this function, estimates are made for stocks of grain (including 
rice) oilseeds, potatoes, peanuts, hops, and dry beans. Grain and 
oilseed stocks in all positions (on-farm and off-farm) are estimated 
quarterly. Grain stocks estimates are one of the most important 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates, which are 
watched closely by growers and industry groups. General authority for 
data collection is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. This 
statue 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 Hop Growers of America provides the data 
collection for much of the production information but, because of 
sensitivity issues, stocks and price information are best collected by 
an impartial third party-NASS. NASS collects the stocks data because 
there is a high degree of competition among the brewers, dealers, and 
growers. NASS will collect information using stock reports.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information to 
administer farm program legislation and make decisions relative to the 
export-import programs. Estimates of stocks provide essential 
statistics on supplies and contribute to orderly marketing. These 
estimates are used by farmers and agribusiness firms in their 
production and marketing decisions. In the absence of such information 
feeding would continue at an ultimately unsustainable rate, causing 
more drastic adjustment to be necessary near the end of the crop 
marketing year.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farms.
    Number of Respondents: 12,590.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly; quarterly; semi-
annually; annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 14,683.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: General Administrative Regulations; Interpretations of 
Statutory and Regulatory Provisions.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-0055.
    Summary of Collection: Section 533 of the 1998 Research Act 
requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to publish 
regulations on how FCIC will provide a final agency determination in 
response to certain inquiries. Sec. 533 provides if FCIC does not 
respond in the time established by this regulation, the interpretation 
of the requested is considered correct for the crop year. It becomes 
necessary for the requester, or respondent, to identify himself so he 
can be provided a

[[Page 36839]]

response and also to state his interpretation of the regulation for 
which he is seeking a final agency interpretation.
    Need and Use of the Information: The requesters name and address 
will be used to allow FCIC to provide a response to the requester 
(respondent). The requesters detailed interpretation of the regulation 
is required to comply with the requirements of Sec. 533 of the 1998 
Research Act and to clearify the boundaries of the request to FCIC. 
FCIC would not be able to comply with the statutory mandates of Sec. 
533 of the 1998 Research Act is the requested information was not 
collected with each submission.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farms.
    Number of Respondents: 45.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 78.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: This evaluation of programmatic options to 
promote saving among food stamp households was originally undertaken in 
response to a provision of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
1993 (Pub. L. 103-66). This legislation directs the Secretary of 
Agriculture to test, under limited circumstances, a modified food stamp 
policy. This data collection focuses on state and local initiatives 
that provide savings opportunities to populations that include a 
substantial proportion of food stamp households. Special purpose 
savings are targeted to low income populations. Often special purpose 
savings accounts legislation has been enacted in the context of state 
welfare initiatives. Twenty five states included Individual Development 
Account (IDA's) in welfare reform plans for Transitional Assistance to 
Needy Families (TANF) recipients. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 
will collect information through telephone interviews to use in 
evaluating these asset accumulation initiatives.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information on 
the status of special-purpose account programs nationwide. An in-depth 
examination of the ways in which the programs are structured, how they 
operate, salient issues involved in their establishment and operation, 
and the response of the target populations will be studied. The 
information will be used by FNS to assess the desirability of relaxing 
asset accumulation rules via special-purpose accounts. It will also 
provide FNS with useful information regarding the operational 
feasibility of such programs.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; Not-
for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one-time).
    Total Burden Hours: 180.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    Title: Application for Authorization to Use the 4-H Name and/or 
Emblem
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0034
    Summary of Collection: Use of the 4-H Name and/or Emblem is 
authorized by an Act of Congress, (Pub. L. 772, 80th Congress, 645, 2nd 
Session). Use of the 4-H Name and/or Emblem by anyone other than the 4-
H Clubs and those duly authorized by them, representatives of the 
Department of Agriculture, the Land-Grant colleges and universities, 
and person authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture is prohibited by 
the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 707. The Secretary has delegated authority 
to the Administrator of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service (CSREES) to authorize others to use the 4-H Name and 
Emblem. Therefore, anyone requesting authorization from the 
Administrator to use the 4-H Name and Emblem is asked to describe the 
proposed use in a formal application. CSREES will collect information 
using form CSREES-01 Application for Authorization to Use the 4-H Club 
Name or Emblem.
    Need and Use of the Information: CSREES will collect information on 
the name of individual, partnership, corporation, or association; 
organizational address, name of authorized representative; telephone 
number; proposed use of the 4-H Name or Emblem; and plan for sale or 
distribution of product. The information collected by CSREES will be 
used to determine if those applying to use the 4-H name and emblem are 
meeting the requirements and quality of materials, products and/or 
services provided to the public. If the information is not collected, 
it would not be possible to ensure that the products, services, and 
materials meet the high standards of 4-H, its educational goals and 
objectives.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; 
individuals or households; business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 40.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (every 3 years).
    Total Burden Hours: 20.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: General Regulations Governing the Peanut Warehouse Storage 
Loan and Handler Operations--7 CFR 1446.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0014.
    Summary of Collection: The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides 
price support to peanuts producers in the United States to their income 
and assure an adequate supply of peanuts for domestic use. In return 
for the guaranteed prices, limitations are placed on the amount of 
peanuts being produced and sold for domestic edible use. The Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (The 1996 Act) revised 
the peanut program applicable to the peanut price support program for 
the 1996 through 2002 crop years. Regulations at 7 CFR Part 1446 have 
been amended to restrictions on transfer of peanuts from additional 
loan to quota loan. Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) contract for 
warehouse storage and related services. For handlers of contract 
additional peanuts, CCC uses the information to determine the amount of 
shrink allowed, the type of supervision required, the amount of export 
obligation and the amount of export disposition credit. The Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) collects information using forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA collects information on the 
name and address of warehouses, the examiner's report on the condition 
of the warehouse and of the stock stored therein and any corrections 
that need to be made, and the warehouse operator's actions to correct 
the conditions, if needed. If the information is not collected, the 
administration of the Peanut Price Support Program would be impaired 
and the Act would not be implemented as required by Congress.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; not-for-profit institutions; 
individuals or households; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 25,800.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 28,752.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Tobacco Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0004.
    Summary of Collection: The authority for the collections of 
information on Form TB-26, Tobacco Stocks Reports, is Public Law No. 
661, commonly known as the Tobacco Statistics Act (7 U.S.C. 501-508) 
enacted in 1929. The Act directs the Secretary to collect statistics on 
the quantities of leaf tobacco held by dealers and manufacturers in the 
United

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States and Puerto Rico. The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
U.S.C. 1621-1627) directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture 
to collect, tabulate, and disseminate statistics on marketing 
agricultural products including market supplies, storage stocks, 
quantity, quality and condition of such products in various positions 
in the marketing channel, utilization of sub-products shipment, and 
unloads. The Agricultural Marketing Service will collect information 
using forms TB-26, Tobacco Stocks Report, and TB-39, Quarterly Report 
of Manufacture and Sales of Snuff, Smoking, and Chewing Tobacco.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on 
the total supply of unmanufactured tobacco available to domestic 
manufacturers and to monitor the size, growth, or decline of the 
market. The data is required for the calculation of production quotas 
for individual types of tobacco under the Agricultural Adjustment Act 
of 1938. Without the information USDA would not be able to disseminate 
marketing information as directed and authorized in the Act.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 81.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 298.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Almonds Grown in California, Marketing Order 981.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0071.
    Summary of Collection: Marketing Order No. 981 (7 CFR Part 981), 
regulates the handling of almonds grown in California and emanates from 
enabling legislation (the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, 
Secs. 1-19, 48 Stats. 31, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 601-674). This 
legislation, hereinafter referred to as the act, was designed to permit 
regulation of certain agricultural commodities for the purpose of 
providing orderly marketing conditions in interstate commerce and 
improving returns to growers. Regulations apply to almonds shipped 
within and outside of the production area to any market, except those 
specifically exempt. The Order also authorizes the establishment of 
production research and marketing research and development projects, 
including paid advertising. California accounts for all of the U.S. 
almond production, approximately 70% of which is exported. The 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will collect information using 
several forms submitted by growers and handlers.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information so 
industry statistics may be published, for program compliance reasons 
and to determine industry support for programs or changes thereto and 
determine qualifications. Without the information the Board would not 
be able to carry out the purposes of the Act and the Order.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 7,658.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,638.
Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-17255 Filed 7-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M