[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 48 (Friday, March 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12963-12965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5853]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register/Vol. 65, No. 48/Friday, March 10, 2000/Notices  

[[Page 12963]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 6, 2000.

    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.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: New Crop Insurance Programs (pilot and private crop 
insurance policies).
    OMB Control Number: 0563-0057.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Crop Insurance Act (ACT), as 
amended in 1994 and 1996, further expanded the role of the crop 
insurance program to be the principal tool for risk management by 
producers of farm products. The expansion mission of the Risk 
Management Agency (RMA) is to meet the obligation of mandatory program 
development and to expand the current program to provide risk 
management products to the greatest number of people covering the 
greatest dollar value of commodities. Extensive research is completed 
prior to the development and implementation of a new pilot program of 
insurance. The development phase of a pilot program includes gathering, 
analyzing, and evaluating the agronomic suitability and cultural 
practices of a crop in each specific area. During the pilot crop 
insurance coverage development process, RMA prepares the crop insurance 
policy provisions, underwriting guidelines, actuarial documents, and 
loss adjustment standards. RMA will collect information using several 
forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: RMA will collect information 
indicating the crop, type, variety, and practice that will be insured 
in the state and county along with the premium rates and crop price 
elections that will be available. The information is used to determine 
liability and premium. The information collected on the forms will be 
used by Federal Agencies, RMA, crop insurance companies reinsured by 
FCIC, and other agencies that require such information in the 
performance of their duties.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 80,889.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 73,228.

Office of Outreach

    Title: USDA Minority Farm Register.
    OMB Control Number: 0508-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The 1990 Farm Bill, Section 2501 provides 
the authority for ``The Secretary of Agriculture * * * to provide 
outreach and technical assistance to encourage and assist socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches 
and to participate in agricultural programs.'' A team of USDA leaders 
in early 1997 was appointed to examine civil rights issues in the USDA. 
A number of civil rights forums were held around the country to hear 
program delivery comments and complaints. The Secretary appointed a 
Civil Rights Implementation Team and ordered that all recommendations 
be implemented. Establishment of a baseline for the number of minority 
farms by supporting a voluntary register of minority farms, which will 
help USDA set goals to halt land loss and to monitor the loss of 
minority-owned farms, was one of the primary recommendations.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Office of Outreach will 
collect information from minorities and socially disadvantaged farmers 
to document the amount of farmland owned by race/ethnicity. The 
Register will establish a baseline of minority farmland ownership, 
which can be monitored over time. The Office of Outreach will provide 
names and addresses to approved organizations assisting minorities with 
land retention and acquisition initiatives.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 120,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 10,000.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 37--Program to Accredit Organic Certifying 
Agencies.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0183.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 
1946, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
consumers with voluntary services that facilitate the marketing of meat 
and meat products. A voluntary program to accredit organic certifying 
agencies would help ensure that U.S. organic products can be exported 
to European Union countries that require accreditation by a government 
body under the International Organization for Standardization Guide 65, 
entitled General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product 
Certification Programs.'' The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will 
collect information using form LS-314, Quality System

[[Page 12964]]

Certification Program Application for Service.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information to 
identify the responsible authorities in establishments requesting 
services and initiate billing and collection accounts. Without a 
properly signed and approved form LS-314, AMS officials would not have 
the authority to accredit organic certifying agencies nor would users 
of the service be legally obligated to abide by the regulations or to 
remit payment for services rendered.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 44.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,531.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Fruit and Vegetable Market News Reports.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0006.
    Summary of Collection: Section 203(g) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621) directs and authorizes the collection of 
information and disseminating of marketing information including 
adequate outlook information on a market-area basis for the purpose of 
anticipating and meeting consumer requirements, aiding in the 
maintenance of farm income and bring about balance between production 
and utilization of agriculture products. Market News provides all 
interested segments of the market chain with market information tends 
to equalize the competitive position of all market participants. The 
fruit and vegetable industries, through their organizations, or 
government agencies present formal requests that the Department of 
Agriculture issue daily, weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly market news 
reports on various aspects of the industry. The Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) will collect information in person and by phone.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information for 
the production of Market News reports that are then available to the 
industry and other interested parties in various formats.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 18,361.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly; Monthly; Other (Daily).
    Total Burden Hours: 121,010.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Application for Plant Variety Protection Certificate and 
Objective Description of Variety.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0055.
    Summary of Collection: The Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA, was 
approved December 24, 1970; 84 Stat. 1542, 7 U.S.C. 2321 et seq.) was 
established to encourage the development of novel varieties of 
sexually-reproduced plants and make them available to the public, 
providing intellectual property rights (IPR) protected to those who 
breed, develop, or discover such novel varieties, and thereby promote 
progress in agriculture in the public interest. The PVPA is a voluntary 
user funded program which grants intellectual property ownership rights 
to breeders of new and novel seed- and tuber-reproduced plant 
varieties. To obtain these rights the applicant must provide 
information which shows the variety of eligible for protection and that 
it is indeed new, distinct, uniform, and stable as the law requires. 
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will collect information using 
forms ST-470, ST-470-E and ST Series Forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information from 
the applicant to determine if the variety is eligible for protection 
under the PVPA. If this information is not collected there would be no 
basis for issuing certificates of protection, and no way for applicants 
to request protection.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 116.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,691.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Generic OMB Fruit Crops, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Marketing Orders (Orders) and Agreements 
(Agreements) covering the respective commodities emanate from the 
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, Secs. 1-19, 48 Stat. 31, 
as amended; 7 U.S.C. 601-674. This regulation, hereinafter referred to 
as the Act, was designated to permit regulation of certain agricultural 
commodities for the purpose of providing orderly marketing conditions 
in interstate commerce and improving returns to producers. The Act 
provides in section 608(d)(1) that information necessary to determine 
the extent to which an order has effectuated the declared policy of the 
Act shall be furnished at the request of the Secretary of Agriculture 
(Secretary). Orders/Agreements are administered by committees/boards 
that consist of producer/growers, handlers, and, in some cases, a 
member representing the public. Producers who voluntarily apply to 
participate in certain programs are required to submit certain 
information, pursuant to the specified sections in the order/agreement. 
AMS will collect information using several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information 
relating to supplies, shipments, and dispositions of their respective 
commodities and other information needed to effectively carry out the 
purpose of the AMAA and their respective orders.
    Descriptive of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 4,052.
    Frequency of Response: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly; Biennially; Weekly; Semi-annually; Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,978.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Regulations for Inspection of Eggs.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0113.
    Summary of Collection: Congress enacted the Egg Products Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 1031-1056) (EPIA) to provide a mandatory inspection 
program to assure egg products are processed under sanitary conditions, 
are wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled; to control the 
disposition of dirty and checked shell eggs; to control unwholesome, 
adulterated, and inedible egg products and shell eggs that are unfit 
for human consumption; and to control the movement and disposition of 
imported shell eggs and egg products that are unwholesome and inedible. 
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will collect information using 
several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information to 
serve the Agency mission, program objectives and management needs in 
providing information on the efficiency and effectiveness of the 
program--whether the program meets the needs of the users and 
consumers; workload; area where the workload may be increasing or 
decreasing, requiring needed changes in field and supervisory staffing 
and travel; program and cost analyses; changes that may be needed in 
the program; evaluating the goals of the Agency; and review and 
evaluation of information collection. The information will be used to 
assure compliance with the Act and regulations and to take 
administrative and regulatory action. The information will also be used 
to

[[Page 12965]]

develop and revise cooperative agreements with the States, which 
conduct surveillance inspections of shell egg handlers and processors. 
If the information is not collected AMS would not be able to carry out 
the intent of Congress; i.e., enforce the Act to control the 
processing, movement, and disposition of restricted shell eggs, 
unwholesome, adulterated, and inedible eggs and egg products; to 
prevent their use as human food; to control imports of such eggs and 
egg products; and to take regulatory action in case of noncompliance.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal 
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,134.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,922.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Pricing Pilot Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The pilot program was included in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act 2000 (Section 3 of H.R. 3428 of the 
106th Congress, as enacted by Section 1001(a) (8) of Public Law 106-113 
(113 Stat. 1536), signed into law on November 29, 1999. A disclosure 
statement is to be completed by dairy farmers who choose to participate 
in a Congressionally--mandated pilot program. The statement contains 
guidelines to help the farmer understand the forward contract process. 
The pilot project is to enable the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
to conduct a study of forward contracting to determine the impact of 
milk prices paid to producers in the U.S.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information to 
review the contract to ensure it has been signed before exempting a 
handler from paying a contractor producer the minimum order price for 
that portion of his or her milk that is covered by the contract. AMS 
will also determine the impact on milk prices paid to producers in the 
United States. If the information is not collected the forward pricing 
pilot program that was mandated by Congress will not be able to be 
conducted and forward pricing contractors would not be recognized under 
the Federal Order program.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 8,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,000.
    Agency has requested emergency approval by March 24, 2000.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Operating Guidelines, Forms and Waivers.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0083.
    Summary of Collection: Section 11(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 
as amended, provides that the State agency of each participating State 
shall submit to the Secretary for approval a plan of operation 
specifying the manner in which the Food Stamp Program will be conducted 
within the State in every political subdivision. Section 11(e) of the 
Act provides that the State plan of operation shall provide for State 
agency verification of household eligibility prior to certification, 
completion of certification within 30 days of filing of the 
application, fair hearing, and submission of reports as required by the 
Secretary. The basic components of the State Plan of Operation are the 
Federal/State Agreement, the Budget Projection Statement, and the 
program Activity Statement (272.2(a)(2). Under part 272.2(c), the State 
agency shall submit to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for 
approval a Budget Projection Statement (which projects total Federal 
administration costs for the upcoming fiscal year) and a Program 
Activity Statement (which provides program activity data for the 
preceding fiscal year). FNS will collect information using Forms FNS 
366A and FNS 366B.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
estimate funding needs and also provide data on the number of 
applications processed, number of fair hearings, and fraud control 
activity. FNS uses the data to monitor State agency activity levels and 
performance. If the information was not collected it would disrupt 
budget planning and delay appropriation distributions.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,768.

William McAndrew,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-5853 Filed 3-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M