[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49142-49145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23495]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 3, 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.

[[Page 49143]]

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.

The Assistant Secretary for Administration, Office of Outreach

    Title: Small Farmer Outreach, Training and Technical Assistance.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0163.
    Summary of Collection: The Food, Agriculture, Conservation and 
Trade Act of 1990, title XXV, section 2501 and the Department of 
Agriculture Appropriation Acts provides funding for the Small Farmer 
Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program, and the Outreach 
and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program. 
These Acts provide the Office of Outreach with the authority to make 
grants and enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other 
agreements with entities to provide outreach, training, and technical 
assistance; to encourage and assist small limited resource and 
economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and 
operate farms and ranches; and to increase their participation and 
accessibility to agricultural programs. Information is collected from 
organizations who wish to apply for grants. After a grant is awarded, 
additional information regarding the status of each project must be 
supplied to the Office of Outreach.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information is collected from 
organizations applying for training and assistance grants to determine 
eligibility and experience and to evaluate the proposed projects 
against the goals of the outreach program. Once a grant is awarded, the 
Office of Outreach uses project reports and other information to ensure 
that the projects are performing well and achieving the desired goals.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly; Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,888.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Survey for Local Cooperatives' Role in the Emerging Grain 
and Feed Industries.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0032.
    Summary of Collection: The mission of the Cooperative Services 
Program (CS) of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is to 
assist farmer-owned cooperatives in improving the economic well being 
of their farmer-members. This is accomplished through a comprehensive 
program of research on structural, operational, and policy issues 
affecting cooperatives; technical advisory assistance to individual 
cooperatives and to groups of producers who wish to organize 
cooperatives; and development of educational and informational 
material. The interplay between market and agricultural policy has 
shaped, and continues to shape the potential activities of grain 
marketing cooperatives. The passage of the Capper-Volstead Act in 1922, 
the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926, and the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1929 were responses to the drastic declines in the prices for 
most agricultural commodities after World War I. The alternative was 
direct intervention by the federal government to limit supplies on the 
domestic market in order to raise prices. Cooperatives are found at all 
levels of the grain marketing industry, but their presence is strongest 
at the origination stage (procuring grain from farmers), and weakest in 
grain exporting. RBS will collect information through telephone and 
personal interviews surveys.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect information 
through a survey to establish a baseline of cooperative resources and 
preferences. This information may ultimately provide a basis for 
structuring the standardized production and marketing grain sector 
desired by end-users. The information will be used by regional 
cooperatives to facilitate strategic planning with member local 
cooperatives.
    Description of Respondents. Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 800.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; Annually.
    Total Burdenhours: 800.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Peanut Quota for 1996 through 2002 Crops--7 CFR 729 & 1446.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0006.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 amended the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938, as 
amended, and the Agriculture Act of 1949, as amended which authorized 
the peanut program. The 1996 Act changed the peanut poundage quota 
program by reducing the national quota, providing temporary seed quota 
allocation, removing the carryover of undermarked quota, allowing for 
the transfer of peanut poundage quota to any other farm within the same 
State and providing for increasing marketing assessments under certain 
conditions to cover losses in area marketing pools. The Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) will collect information using various forms to determine 
peanut marketing activity and process quota allocations.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
monitor and control compliance with the peanut program as outlined in 
CFR parts 729 and 1446. If the information is not monitored and data 
not required, the peanut program could not operate and the Act would 
not be implemented as required by Congress.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; 
Individuals or households; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Weekly; Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 301,690.

Forest Service

    Title: Meeting National Forest Recreationists' Needs through a 
Customer Service Paradigm.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended: 16 U.S.C. 
1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of 
Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including 
recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective 
use. Users of urban proximate National Forest wildland areas come from 
a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio-
demograpic categories. Forest Service (FS) personnel will conduct a 
study to gain a better understanding of how residents living in an 
urban environment close to National Forest Systems lands, get or 
receive information about the recreational opportunities on these land. 
FS will collect information using mail-in questionnaries, telephone 
interviews, and face-to-face interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on 
gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The 
information will be used to assist resource managers in their

[[Page 49144]]

effective management of recreation activities in the region studied. In 
addition, the Wildlife Recreation and Urban Cultures Project will used 
the data to further analyze scientific issues involved, and expand its 
information base on visitor characteristics, customer service, and 
management of high quality recreation opportunities. If the information 
is not collected resource managers will have to make visitor based 
decisions on very limited, potentially biased, or non-existent 
information.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 365.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 103.

Forest Service

    Title: Communication and Interpretation For Urban Proximate Forest 
Visitors
    OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended: 16 U.S.C. 
1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of 
Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including 
recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective 
use. Users of urban proximate National Forest wildland areas come from 
a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio-
demograpic categories. Forest Service (FS) personnel will conduct a 
study to further their understanding of recreationists' needs by 
applying and improving on existing interpretation and communication 
practices. A direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated 
through improvements in communications and interpretative services, 
more informed recreation management decisions, and increased attention 
to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS will 
collect information using mail-in questionnaries, telephone interviews, 
and face-to-face interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on 
gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The 
information will be used to assist resource managers in expanding their 
information base on communication with visitors, and promote the 
management of high quality recreation. If the information is not 
collected resource managers will have to make visitor based decisions 
on very limited, potentially biased, or non-existent information.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 515.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 145.

Forest Service

    Title: Recreation on the San Gabriel Canyon Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 
1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of 
Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including 
recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective 
use. Users of urban proximate San Gabriel Canyon come from a variety of 
ethnic/racial, income, age, educational, and other socio-demographic 
categories. The activities pursued, information sources utilized, and 
site attributes preferred are just some of the items affected by these 
differences. There is no literature available about use along the 
entire watershed which includes other areas of the East and West Forks 
as well as use of the North Fork. Forest Service (FS) personnel will 
conduct a study to enable more effecive management of the watershed. A 
direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated through 
improvements in customer service, more informed recreation management 
decisions, and increased attention to the diverse customers served by 
the National Forests. FS will collect information using questionnaires 
and face-to-face interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on 
gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The 
information will be used to assist resource managers in their effective 
management of recreation activities in the San Gabriel Canyon. If the 
information is not collected resource managers will have to make 
visitor based decisions on very limited, potentially biased, or non-
existent information.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 400.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 100.

Forest Service

    Title: Recreational and Management Preferences Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 
1600 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of Agriculture to 
research the multiple uses and products, including recreation of 
forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective use. Users of 
urban proximate National Forest wildland areas come from a variety of 
ethnic/racial, income, age, education, and other socio-demographic 
categories. The activities pursued, opinions about threatened and 
endangered species, preferred management approaches, and degree of 
trust in the agency are just some of the items affected by these 
differences. Additional challenges include increases in the number of 
visitors to recreation areas, and an increasing need to protect species 
and develop effective interventions to address recreational impacts. 
Without this study the Forest Service (FS) personnel in the southern 
province will be ill-equipped to handle management changes required to 
address recreational impacts and protect plant and animals species. A 
direct benefit to the affected public is anticipated through 
improvements in customer service, more informed recreation management 
decisions, and increased attentiont o the diverse customers served by 
the National Forests. FS will collect information using questionnaires 
and face-to-face interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on 
gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The 
information will be used to assist resource managers in their effective 
management of recreation activities in the region studied. Also, the 
information will provide further knowledge, from the perspective of the 
recreating public, on how species and their management are viewed. If 
the information is not collected resource managers will have to make 
species management decisions without the views of the recreating 
public, who will be impacted by many of those choices.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 250.

Forest Service

    Title: The Day Use Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 
1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of 
Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products,

[[Page 49145]]

including recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most 
effective use. Users of urban proximate National Forests in Southern 
California come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, 
educational, and other socio-demographic categories. The activities 
pursued, sources utilized, and site attributes preferred are just some 
of the items affected by these differences. Additional information is 
needed for the managers of the National Forests in Southern California, 
in part to validate results and in part because of the continuously 
changing visitor population recreating on the National Forests of 
Southern California. Without this study the Forest Service (FS) 
personnel will be ill-equipped to handle management changes required in 
response to visitor needs and preferences. A direct benefit to the 
affected public is anticipated through improvements in customer 
service, more informed recreation management decisions, and increased 
attention to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS 
will collect information using questionnaires and face-to-face 
interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on 
gender, age, education, ethnic or racial group affiliation, etc. The 
information will be used to assist resource managers in their effective 
management of recreation activities in the region studied. The Wildland 
Recreation and Urban Cultures Project will use the information to 
further expand its information base on visitor characteristics, 
communication, and mitigation of depreciative behaviors, such as 
vandalism. If the information is not collected resource managers will 
have to make species management decisions without the views of the 
recreating public, who will be impacted by many of those choices.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 600.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 150.

Forest Service

    Title: Recreational Participation and Environmental Activity 
Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-307, 92 Stat. 353, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 
1600 (note), 1561 (note), 1641-1647) directs the Secretary of 
Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including 
recreation of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most effective 
use. Users or urban proximate National Forest wildland, regional parks, 
and state recreation areas come from a variety of ethnic/racial, 
income, age, educational, and other socio-demographic categories. The 
activities pursued, amount of recreational participation overall, 
environmentally focused activities, and preferred site features are 
just some of the items affected by these differences. Without this 
study the Forest Service (FS) personnel in the southern province will 
be less-equipped to address recreational impacts and to understand what 
role recreation plays in environmental activities. A direct benefit to 
the affected public is anticipated through improvements in customer 
service, more informed recreation management decisions, and increased 
attention to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. FS 
will collect information using questionnaires and face-to-face 
interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on 
socio-demographic characteristics of visitors including ethnic 
identity, visitation history and activities, annual recreational 
patterns, environmentally focused activities on-site and in the home, 
and preferred site features. The information will be used to further 
expand its information base on visitor characteristics, the role of 
ethnicity in environmental action and preferred site development, and 
the role of recreation in environmental. If the information is not 
collected resource managers will have to make species management 
decisions without the views of the recreating public, who will be 
impacted by many of those choices.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 125.
Barbara LaCour,
Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-23495 Filed 9-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M