[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 87 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25901-25903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11077]


 ========================================================================
 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. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 25901]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 28, 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.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Request for Direct Loan Assistance.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0167.
    Summary of Collection: Section 302 (7 U.S.C. 1922) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) provides that 
``the Secretary is authorized to make and insure loans under this title 
to farmers and ranchers''. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued 
regulations through the Federal Register process to implement the 
making and servicing of direct loans in chapter 18 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations. These regulations establish the information 
collection necessary for FSA to make and service direct loans. The 
loans include Operating, Farm Ownership, Soil and Water, Softwood 
Timber Production, Emergency, Economic Emergency, Economic Opportunity, 
Recreation, and Rural Housing loans for farm service building. FSA will 
collect information using from FSA 410-1.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine if the applicant/borrower meets the eligibility requirements 
established in the CONACT. FSA will also collect the following 
information: name, address, telephone number; social security number; 
type of farming operation; information relating to the applicant's 
credit history; the source and amount of nonfarm income; and a 
financial statement. If the information were not collected FAS would 
not be able to make an accurate eligibility and financial feasibility 
determination on respondents' request for new loans and loan servicing 
actions.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; Federal Government; Business or 
other-for-profit; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 49,670.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (when applying for 
benefits).
    Total Burden Hours: 99,340.

Forest Service

    Title: Agreement to Initiate (ATI) and Exchange Agreement (EA).
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0105.
    Summary of Collection: Land exchanges are an important tool to 
consolidate landownership for purposes of more efficient management; to 
secure important Forest Plan objectives of resource management, 
enhancement, development, and protection; and to fulfill other public 
needs such as acquiring lands important for such resources as fisheries 
habitat, wild and scenic rivers, wildlife habitat, and wilderness. A 
land exchange is where the United States has identified either federal 
land or federal interest in land available for exchange and a non-
Federal party has identified either private land or private interest in 
land they are interested in exchanging. The United States and the non-
Federal party agree to do an exchange of what they own. The primary 
authorities used to perform land exchanges involving National Forest 
Systems lands include the General Exchange Act, the Weeks, Act, the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Land Exchange 
Facilitation Act. The Forest Service (FS) will collect information by 
phone, in face to face meetings with land exchange parties, or by 
requesting in a letter to the exchange party that the requested 
information be submitted by mail.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information on the 
description of properties being considered in land exchange; an 
implementation schedule of action items relating to preparation and 
review of an appraisal of the land; public scoping and notification; 
preparation of specialist reports, etc., and the identification of the 
party responsible for each action item, as well as target dates for 
completion of each action item. FS will also collect information such 
as the identification of the non-Federal land exchange parties; the 
description of the lands and interests to exchanged, such as roads; the 
identification of all reserved and outstanding interests, such as 
roads, minerals, and easements; and all other terms and conditions 
necessary to complete exchange. To not collect the information would 
mean the land exchange was dropped.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 200.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Fax Signature Card.

[[Page 25902]]

    OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) is seeking alternative service delivery process 
that will reduce the necessity for USDA service center customers to 
travel to a service center to provide information and sign documents. 
One of the alternatives being implemented is to accept information 
provided via telefacsimile. Each of the USDA service center agencies 
(Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural 
Development Agencies) will share the signature on the FAX signature 
card to eliminate redundant collection of the same data. FSA will 
collect information using form FSA-237 FAX signature card.
    Need and use of the Information: FSA will collect the name and 
signature from service center customers. The information collected will 
be used to verify the authenticity of signatures on documents provided 
to USDA service centers via telefacsimile. Failure to collect and 
maintain the original signature will limit USDA's ability to offer the 
telefacsimile alternative to its service center customers.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 866,089.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 14,429.
    Agency is requesting emergency approval by May 5, 2000.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Animal Welfare Act, Part 3, SubParts A and D, Dogs, Cats, 
Primates.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0093.
    Summary of Collection: The Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 
(Public Law 890544) enacted August 24, 1966, required the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (USDA), to regulate the humane care and 
handling of dog, and nonhuman primates. The legislation was the result 
of extensive demand by organized animal welfare groups and private 
citizens requesting a Federal law covering the transportation, care, 
and handling of laboratory animals. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care (AC) has the responsibility to 
enforce the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131-2156) and the provisions 
of 9 CFR, Subchapter A, which implements the Animal Welfare Act.
    Need and use of the Information: APHIS will collect to insure that 
animal use in research facilities or exhibition purposes are provided 
humane care and treatment. The information is used to ensure those 
dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, carriers, etc., are in 
compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and regulations and standards 
promulgated under this authority of the Act.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not for-
profit institutions; State, Local and Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 82,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 44,313.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Civil Rights Title VI--Collection Reports--FNS-191 and FNS-
101.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0025.
    Summary of Collection: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
requires the collection of racial/ethnic data for all programs 
utilizing Federal Funds. Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), Section 42.107(b), require all Federal Departments to have 
racial and ethnic information available showing the extent to which 
minority groups are beneficiaries of the federally assisted programs 
they administer. In order to comply with the Civil Rights Act, 
Department of Justice regulations and the Department's 
nondiscrimination policy and regulations (7 CFR Part 15), the 
Department's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires State agencies 
to submit data on the racial/ethnic categories of person receiving 
benefits from FNS food assistance programs. FNS will collect 
information using forms FNS 191 and FNS 101.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect the names, 
address, telephone number, and number of clinics to compile a local 
agency directory which serves as the primary source of data on number 
and location for local agencies and number of clinics operating 
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). FNS will also collect 
information on the number of CFSP individuals (women, infant, children, 
and elderly) in each racial/ethnic category for one month of the year. 
The information will be used in the Department's annual USDA Equal 
Opportunity Report. If the information is not collected FNS could not 
track racial/ethnic data for program evaluation.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,939.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 6,595.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0012.
    Summary of Collection: Section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act 
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 940(c)) established a loan and grant program. The 
program provides zero interest loans and grants to Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) borrowers for the purpose of promoting rural economic 
development and job creation projects. The loans and grants under this 
program may be provided to approximately 1,700 electric and telephone 
utilities across the country that has borrowed funds from RUS. Under 
this program, the RUS borrowers may receive the loan funds and pass 
them on to businesses or other organizations. Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS) will collect information using form RD 1703-
1.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will collect information to 
evaluate applications for funding consideration, conduct an 
environmental review, prepare legal documents, receive loan payments, 
oversee the operation of a revolving loan fund, monitor the use of RBS 
funds, enforce other government requirements such as compliance with 
civil rights regulations. If the information were not collected RBS 
would be unable to select the projects that will receive loan or grant 
funds.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 180.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 7,742.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: Farm Labor Housing Technical Assistance Grants.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Section 514 of Title V of the Housing Act of 
1949 authorizes USDA to make loans for the construction of farm labor 
housing. Section 516 of the Act authorizes USDA to make grants for the 
same purpose. USDA is authorized to provide ``financial assistance to 
private and public nonprofit agencies to encourage the development of 
domestic and migrant farm labor housing''. Up to 10 percent of the 
annual section 516 appropriation may be used for ``technical 
assistance'' purposes ($1,350,000 in FY 2000). Recipients of this 
assistance, in turn, assist other organizations obtain loans and grants 
for the construction of farm labor housing. The Rural Housing Service 
will collect information using the Technical Assistance Grant 
Agreement.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information to 
determine applicant eligibility for a grant, project feasibility, to 
select grant

[[Page 25903]]

proposals for funding, and to monitor performance after grants have 
been awarded. Failure to collect this information could result in the 
improper use of Federal funds.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, 
Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 12.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 7,878.
    Agency is requesting emergency approval by May 12, 2000.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1944-E, Rural Rental and Cooperative Housing Loan 
Policies, Procedures, and Authorizations.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0047.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Agency (RHS), an agency of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized to make loans to 
finance rural rental and cooperative housing projects and related 
facilities under Section 515 and 521 of Title V of the Housing Act of 
1949, as amended. The intent of the program is to provide affordable 
rental housing for elderly or handicapped person or families, or other 
persons and families of low or moderate income in rural areas. RHS will 
collect information using forms RD 1944-7, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, and 38.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information to 
evaluate the cost, benefits, feasibility and financial performance of 
the proposed project, as well as the eligibility of the applicant. 
Failure to collect this information would result in unauthorized 
federal assistance being granted.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, 
or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 425.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 28,246.

William McAndrew,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-11077 Filed 5-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M