[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56187-56188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27034]


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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. 200 / Monday, October 18, 1999 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 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.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: 7 CFR 1951-T Disaster Set-Aside Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0164.
    Summary of Collection: 7 CFR part 1951, Subpart T, Disaster Set-
Aside Program (DSA), used in support of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
Farm Loan Program (FLP), formerly Farmer Programs of the Farmers Home 
Administration (FmHA), and Farm Credit Programs of FSA. The Disaster 
Set-Aside Program is made available through the authority granted the 
Secretary of Agriculture under the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1981a) (The Act). The set-aside program is 
designed to assist borrowers in financial distress who operated a farm 
of ranch in a political subdivision, typically a county, that was 
declared or designed a disaster area. DSA allows eligible borrowers who 
are unable to make the payments to quickly eliminate their immediate 
financial stress. Under this program, FSA farm loan program borrowers 
can receive immediate financial relief by moving one annual installment 
for each loan to the end of the loan term. The installment set-aside 
may be the one due immediately after the disaster or, if that 
installment is paid to the neglect of other creditors or family living 
and operating expenses, then the next scheduled installment may be set-
aside. FSA will collect information on the borrowers asset values, 
expenses and income.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information is required of FSA 
farm borrowers and collected by FSA loan servicing officials to 
determine that disaster victims need payment relief and to support the 
approval of a set-aside request.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 5,410.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,233.

Forest Service

    Title: Special Use Administration.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0082.
    Summary of Collection: Title 5 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, Pub. L. 94-579), the Organic 
Administration Act of 1897 (30 Stat. 34), and the Secretary's 
Regulations at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 251, 
Subpart B (36 CFR 251, Subpart B) provide for authorities and 
requirements for the application, issuance, and administration of 
special uses on National Forest System Lands. There is a basic 
obligation of the agency to ensure that the use of Federal lands is in 
the public's interest; is compatible with the mission of the Forest 
Service (FS); and that environmental and social impacts are identified 
and mitigated and that a fee based on fair market value is received. 
The evaluation can only be accomplished with the cooperation and 
information furnished by the applicant or permit holder. The 
information is needed from those parties who seek special-use 
authorizations to conduct private or commercial operations on National 
Forest System Land, or from those who are currently utilizing National 
Forest System Lands for private or public use. FS will collect 
information using several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on (1) 
the identity of the applicant; (2) the nature of the request and 
project description; (3) location of National Forest System Lands 
requested for use; (4) technical and financial capability of the 
requester; (5) alternatives considered, including use of nonfederal 
lands and; (6) anticipated environmental impacts and proposed 
mitigation of those impacts. The authorized forest officer evaluates 
this information and makes a decision to approve or disapprove the 
requested use. The information is required to evaluate the merits of 
the applicant's request to use National Forest System Lands that is not 
available elsewhere. The use of the forms helps reduce the burden on 
the applicant by providing a listing of the information that is 
required by law and tailored to the intended use proposed by the 
respondent. Use of the forms is of extreme benefit to applicants in 
that they do not have to refer to the regulations or policy manuals to 
determine what information is needed by the agency. Without the forms, 
the cost to the applicant would be increased.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit

[[Page 56188]]

institutions; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 56,440.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 75,875.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: CCC/Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) & Intermediate 
Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-101).
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0004.
    Summary of Collection: Under 7 CFR Part 1493, the Export Credit 
Guarantee Program (GSM-102) and the Intermediate Export Credit Program 
(GSM-103), offer credit guarantees to exporters in order to maintain 
and increase overseas importers' ability to purchase and finance U.S. 
agricultural goods. The Export Credit Guarantee Programs are designed 
to stimulate U.S. private sector financing of foreign purchases of U.S. 
agricultural commodities on credit terms. Since the Export Credit 
Guarantee Programs operate off commercial sales, the majority of the 
information required for program participation, including the guarantee 
application, evidence of export report, assignment notice, and filing 
of notices of default, is information that would already be in the 
possession of the participants. The Foreign Agricultural Service will 
collect information from the guarantee application submitted by the 
participants by telephone, mail, or fax.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information to 
determine a sale's eligibility for Export Credit Guarantee Program 
coverage and provide the Commodity Credit Corporation with adequate 
information to meet the program's goals and statutory requirements. The 
information will be utilized in fulfilling the Commodity Credit 
Corporation's obligation under the issued payment guarantee. This 
information collected ensures the Commodity Credit Corporation that all 
participants have a business office in the United States and are not 
debarred or suspended from participating in government programs.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 200.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Other: when program is utilized.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,440.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

    Title: Exportation, Transportation, and Importation of Meat and 
Poultry Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0094.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) requires that meat and poultry establishments exporting products 
to foreign countries complete an export certificate. Meat and poultry 
products not marked with the mark of inspection and shipped from one 
official establishment to another for further processing must be 
transported under FSIS seal to prevent such unmarked products from 
entering into commerce. To track products shipped under seal, FSIS 
requires shipping establishments to complete a form that identifies the 
type, amount, and weight of the product. Foreign countries exporting 
meat and poultry products to the U.S. must establish eligibility for 
importation of products into the U.S., and annually certify that their 
inspection systems are ``equivalent to'' the U.S. inspection system. 
Meat and poultry products intended for import into the U.S. must be 
accompanied by a health certificate, signed by an official of the 
foreign government, stating that the products have been produced by 
certified foreign establishments. FSIS will collect information using 
forms 9060-1, 7350-1, 9540-1, and 9510-1.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information to 
identify the type, amount, weight, destination, and originating country 
of the meat and poultry. FSIS will use the information to verify that a 
meat or poultry product intended for import has been prepared in a 
plant certified to prepare products for export to the U.S. FSIS will 
also use the information from the forms in the agency's annual Report 
to Congress.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 19,653.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 168,711.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

    Title: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Inspection.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0090.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) permits poultry establishments to operate under the Streamlined 
Inspection System (SIS), the New Line Speed (NELS) Inspection System, 
or the New Turkey Inspection (NTI) System. These systems are post-
mortem inspection systems that have enabled the poultry industry to 
increase their daily production. To operate under SIS for boilers and 
Cornish game hens, establishments must request and receive approval 
from FSIS. Meat and poultry establishments wishing to slaughter animals 
treated with experimental biological products, drugs or chemicals must 
provide certain information and supporting data for review by FSIS 
before approval may be granted. FSIS will collect information using 
forms 6700-2, 6500-1, 2, 3 and 6300-15.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information to 
ensure that meat and poultry products are not adulterated from the use 
of a biological product, drug or chemical. FSIS uses the information on 
the forms to track specimens released to laboratories for educational 
research. If the information was not collected, FSIS would have no 
means of ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, 
unadulterated, and properly labeled.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,114.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 19,716.
Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-27034 Filed 10-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M