[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 219 (Monday, November 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 61814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29724]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 219 / Monday, November 15, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 61814]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice of Request for Reinstatement and Revision of a Previously 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the intentions of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to 
request reinstatement and revision to an information collection 
previously approved in support of the Production Flexibility Contract 
(PFC) program. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996, provided owners and producers on farms the opportunity to enter 
into the production flexibility contracts with the CCC for fiscal years 
1996 through 2002. Owners and producers who participate and fully 
comply with the terms of the production flexibility contracts and 
regulations will receive payments. PFCs, revisions to the PFCs and 
permanent reductions of all or a portion of the production flexibility 
contract acreage must be documented.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before January 
14, 2000, to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Lynn H. Tjeerdsma, Branch 
Chief, Emergency Preparedness and Programs Branch, USDA, FSA, STOP 
0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D. C. 20250-0517, 
(202) 720-6602.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Production Flexibility Contracts for Wheat, Feed Grains, 
Rice and Upland Cotton, 7 CFR part 1412.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0092.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement and revision of a previously 
approved information collection.
    Abstract: Eligible owners or producers signed a Production 
Flexibility Contract (PFC) to participate in the program authorized by 
Title I of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
(1996 Act). The 1996 Act provides that farms having a history of 
participating in government programs could be enrolled in a PFC. The 
production flexibility contract worksheet is provided to the owner or 
producer to confirm the acreage that will be enrolled for 
participation, designate each producer's share request an advance 
payment, and provide for undesignated shares for any fiscal year where 
payment shares are unknown. In addition, the worksheet allows for 
producers to adjust the level of participation and projects payments 
for the contract period. The owner is provided the ability to make 
voluntary requests to reduce the contract acreage for a crop on the 
farm in order to remain eligible for the PFC. As a condition of 
eligibility for contract payments, the operator or owner must timely 
submit a report of fruit and vegetable acreage. The county Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) committee determines whether requests are properly 
completed, whether payment shares are proper and whether program 
requirements are met for payment approval. Information collected for 
the PFC program is required for participation and is not available from 
any other source.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individual Producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,592,500.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,296,250 hours.
    Proposed topics for comment include: (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 collected: 
or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the 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. Comments should be 
sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 
20503 and to Lynn H. Tjeerdsma, Branch Chief, USDA, Farm Service 
Agency, Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division, Stop 0517, 
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0517, (202) 720-
6602. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on November 5, 1999.
Keith Kelly,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation
[FR Doc. 99-29724 Filed 11-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P