[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 73 (Friday, April 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20127-20129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9346]


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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 73 / Friday, April 14, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 20127]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 10, 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, 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.

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration

    Title: Survey of Customers of the Official Grain Inspection and 
Weighing System.

    OMB Control Number: 0580-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Grain Standards Act, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 71-87) (USGSA), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA), authorize the Secretary of 
the United States Department of Agriculture to establish official 
inspection, grading, and weighing programs for grains and other 
agricultural commodities. Under the USGSA and AMS, Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA's) FGIS offers inspecting, 
weighing, grading, quality assurance, and certification services for a 
user-fee, to facilitate the efficient marketing of grain, oilseeds, 
rice, lentils, dry peas, edible beans, and related agricultural 
commodities in the global marketplace. The goal of FGIS and the 
official inspection, grading, and weighing system is to provide timely, 
high-quality, accurate, consistent, and professional service that 
facilitates the orderly marketing of grain and related commodities. 
FGIS will collect information using a survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: FGIS will collect information to 
determine where and to what extent services are satisfactory, and where 
and to what extent they can be improved. The information will be shared 
with other managers and program leaders who will be responsible for 
making any necessary improvements at the office/agency, program, and 
project level.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,874.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 313.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Invitation for Applications of Interest to Sell Intermediary 
Relending Program (IRP) Loans Under and Expended Pilot.

    OMB Control Number: 0570-0036.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) 
will competitively select and authorize several intermediaries to sell 
an aggregate amount of approximately $50 million of the existing IRP 
portfolios in Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 based on selected criteria. In 
order to evaluate the IRP applications from the intermediary and to 
competitively select intermediaries to participate in the sale, certain 
criteria must be established. This information is necessary to provide 
the threshold to select those intermediaries to participate in the 
expanded sale. Each intermediary will be asked to address the criteria 
in the application submitted.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect the names, 
addresses, contact person, telephone, fax numbers, and e-mail address. 
The purpose of the information is to evaluate all applications received 
to determine eligibility of the intermediary to participate in the 
secondary market sale based on the criteria set forth. RBS will 
evaluate each intermediary application based on the published criteria.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,308.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Specified Commodities Imported into the United States Exempt 
from Import Requirements, 7 CFR Part 944, 980, and 999.

    OMB Control Number: 0581-0167.
    Summary of Collection: Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674) requires that whenever the 
Secretary of Agriculture issues grade, size, quality, or maturity 
regulations under domestic marketing orders for certain commodities, 
the same or comparable regulations on imports of those commodities must 
be issued. Import regulations apply only during those periods when 
domestic marketing order regulations are in effect. No person may 
import products for processing or other exempt purposes unless the 
shipment is accompanied by an executed Importers Exempt Commodity Form 
(FV-6). The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will collect 
information using forms FV-6 and FV-7.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect information on 
the

[[Page 20128]]

following: the product and the variety being imported; the date and 
place of inspection; identifying marks or numbers on the containers; 
identifying numbers on the railroad car; truck, or other transportation 
vehicle transporting product to the receiver; the name, mailing 
address, phone number, and fax number of the importer; the place and 
date entry; the quantity imported; the name, mailing address, phone 
number, and fax number of the intended receiver; intended use of the 
exempt commodity; and the U.S. Customs Service entry number and 
harmonized tariff code number.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 1,920.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,632.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1775, Technical Assistance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0112.
    Summary of Collection: Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (CONACT), 7 U.S.C. 1926, authorizes Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans and grants to public agencies, 
American Indian tribes, and nonprofit corporations. The loans and 
grants fund the development of drinking water, wastewater, and solid 
waste disposal facilities in rural areas with populations of up to 
10,000 residents. Nonprofit organizations receive Technical Assistance 
and Training (TAT) and Solid Waste Management (SWM) grants to help 
small rural communities or areas identify and solve problems relating 
to community drinking water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal 
systems. The technical assistance is intended to improve the management 
and operation of the systems and reduce or eliminate pollution of water 
resources.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine applicant eligibility, project feasibility, and the 
applicant's ability to meet the grant and regulatory requirements. RUS 
will review the information, evaluate it, and, if the applicant and 
project are eligible for further competition, invite the applicant to 
submit a formal application. Failure to collect proper information 
could result in improper determinations of eligibility, improper use of 
funds, or hindrances in making grants authorized by the TAT and SWM 
program.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 80.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly;
    Total Burden Hours: 4,168.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1744-C, Advance and Disbursement of Funds--
Telecommunications.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0023.
    Summary of Collection: Section 201 of the Rural Electrification Act 
(RE Act) of 1936 authorizes the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make loans for the purpose of providing telephone 
service to the widest practicable number of rural subscribers. RUS Form 
481, ``Financial Requirement Statement,'' must be submitted by the 
borrower to request loan advances. RUS Form 81 is prepared and 
submitted to RUS by a borrower in order to have approved loan funds 
advanced.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information about 
the description of the advance desired; backup documentation relating 
to transactions listed on the Form 481; and verification that the funds 
advanced are related directly to loan purposes. If the information were 
not collected RUS would not have any control over how loan funds are 
spent or a record of the balance to be advanced.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 645.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,893.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1703-H, Deferments of RUS Loan Payments for Rural 
Development Projects.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0097.
    Summary of Collection: Subsection (b) of section 12 of the Rural 
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 912), a 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telephone borrower may defer 
the payment of principal and interest on any insured or direct loan 
made under the RE Act invest the deferred amounts in rural development 
projects. The Deferment program is used to encourage borrowers to 
invest in and promote rural development and rural job creation projects 
that are based on sound economic and financial analyses.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine eligibility; specific purposes for which the deferment amount 
will be utilized; the term of the deferment the borrower will receive; 
the cost of the total project and degree of participation in the 
financing from other sources; verification that the purposes will not 
violate limitations established in 7 CFR 1703-H. If the information 
were not collected, RUS would be unable to determine eligibility for a 
project.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit; business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 4.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 140.

 Forest Service

    Title: Forest Industries Data Collection System.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0010.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Range Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 requires the Forest Service (FS) to evaluate 
trends in the use of logs and wood chips, to forecast anticipated 
levels of logs and wood chips, and to analyze changes in the harvest of 
the resources. Forest product and other wood-using industries are 
important to state, regional, and national economies. In most southern 
states, the value of rounded timber products is ranked either first or 
second in relation to other major agricultural crop. The importance and 
value of the timber products industry is significant in other regions 
of the United States as well. The FS will collect information using 
questionnaires.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to 
monitor the types, species, volumes, sources, and prices of the timber 
products harvested throughout the Nation. The data will be used to 
develop specific economic development plans for new forest-related 
industry in a State and to assist existing industry in identifying raw 
material problems and opportunities. If the information were not 
collected, data would not be available for sub-state, state, regional, 
and national policy makers and program developers to make decisions 
related to the forestland on a scientific basis.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2,909.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,369.

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Poultry Imports and Export.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0141.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. authorizes sections 111, 
114, 114a, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134c, 134f, and 134g of 21 
U.S.C. These authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and 
eliminate domestic diseases such as brucellosis, as well as

[[Page 20129]]

to take actions to prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as exotic 
Newcastle disease and other foreign diseases. Disease prevention is the 
most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and 
enhancing the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ability 
to compete in exporting animals and animal products. A Final rule was 
published on July 19, 1999, that allow the importation of poultry 
carcasses from regions of the world where exotic Newcastle disease 
(END) exists, provided the carcasses did not originate in these 
regions, and provided the carcasses are processed and shipped according 
to APHIS requirements. APHIS will collect information using a 
certificate of origin, serial numbers, records that must be maintain 
for 2 years and a cooperative service agreement that must be signed.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
ensure that imported poultry carcasses pose a negligible risk of 
introducing END into the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Responses: 4.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 30.

William McAndrew,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-9346 Filed 4-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M