[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 93 (Friday, May 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30560-30562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11923]


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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. 93 / Friday, May 12, 2000 / Notices  

[[Page 30560]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 8, 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.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: FNS Nutrition Education and Promotion Campaign.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The mission of FNS includes improving the 
eating habits of the nation's children. To that end, FNS plans to 
launch a five-year national nutrition education and promotion campaign 
targeting preschool and school-aged children and their caregivers. 
Section 6(a)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
provides the authority for educating USDA School Lunch Program 
participants about nutrition. The campaign will employ social marketing 
techniques to convey motivational and behavior-focused messages about 
healthy eating and physical activity to FNS program participants. FNS 
will collect information using focus group discussion sessions and 
semi-structured interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will 
provide FNS with insights on how best to reach and motivate preschool 
and school-aged children and their caregivers to make behavioral 
changes consistent with the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 
information will be used to determine those messages and materials that 
best resonate with the target audience. If information is not 
collected, valuable consumer input from FNS' culturally and ethnically 
diverse low-income population would not be obtained.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or household; Not-for-
profit institutions; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 288.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One-time/Focus Groups).
    Total Burden Hours: 293.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0175.
    Summary of Collection: The collection of crop planting and 
production data is necessary for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) 
to calculate the producer's approved yield on the basis of actual 
production history. Information collection relative to the occurrence 
of crop damage or loss production and application for Noninsured Crop 
Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is necessary for CCC to accept and 
consider a request for assistance under NAP and to facilitate 
eligibility determinations. Assistance under the NAP is authorized by 
Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 and implemented by regulations at 7 CFR part 1437. NAP provides 
eligible producers of eligible crops with protection to the 
catastrophic risk protection plan of crop insurance. It helps reduce 
production risks faced by producers of crops for which Federal crop 
insurance is not available. It also reduces financial losses that occur 
when natural disasters cause a catastrophic loss of production or 
prevented planting of an eligible crop. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
will collect information using forms CCC-451, CCC-576, CCC-441, CCC-
576-1 and CCC-452.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect the producer's 
name, address, identification number, farm and tract, acreage, 
ownership, location, crop history, planted acreage, production, yield, 
share, etc. The information will be used to identify eligible NAP 
participants, acreage and location, crop and commodities. If 
information is not collected FSA will not be able to identify and 
determine eligible participants and crops being planted or produced, or 
provide assistance to agricultural producers who as a result of natural 
disaster have suffered catastrophic losses of agricultural crops of 
commodities.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or household; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 497,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Other (disaster).
    Total Burden Hours: 4,605,088.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Declaration of Sale.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0009.
    Summary of Collection: Title I of the Agricultural Trade 
Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, (Public Law 480 
(P.L. 480), 83rd Congress) provides for U.S. government financing of 
sales of U.S. agricultural commodities to friendly foreign countries. 
Within the U.S. government, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

[[Page 30561]]

of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for 
administering Title I agreements. After a Pub. L. 480, Title I 
agreement is signed, the government of the importing country requests 
FAS to issue a purchase authorization (PA). After receiving USDA price 
approval (based on the information provided in the telephonic notice of 
sale) and after a Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) registration 
number for the sale has been provided to the supplier, the supplier 
prepares Form FAS-359, ``Declaration of Sale'' and submits it to FAS. 
The form should contain the same information that was provided in the 
telephonic notice of sale.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect the name and 
address of the supplier, date and time of the sale, contract quantity 
and tolerance, delivery period and terms, price, commodity description, 
port or coast of export and supplier's contract number.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 22.25.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Regulations--Financing Commercial Sales of Agricultural 
Commodities Under Title I, P.L. 480--Recordkeeping and Reporting 
Requirements
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0005.
    Summary of Collection: Title I of the Agricultural Trade 
Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended, (Public Law 480 
(P.L. 480), 83rd Congress) authorizes the Commodity Credit Corporation 
(CCC) to finance the sale and exportation of agricultural commodities 
on concessional credit terms. Prospect commodity suppliers must provide 
information to the Department to determine eligibility. Commodity 
supplier must report details of sales for price approval and to submit 
to USDA, Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS), for approval, information 
on any amendments to the sales. Shipping agents nominated by importing 
countries must submit information to allow identification of possible 
conflicts of interest.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information to 
insure that (1) suppliers keep accurate records on Title 1 
transactions; (2) suppliers permit access to authorized USDA 
representatives (such as auditors and investigators); and, (3) 
suppliers retain records for three years after final payment. FAS will 
review the sales prices to ensure that it is within the prevailing 
range of export market prices use the information. If the information 
were not collected FAS would not be able to monitor the sales made 
under P.L. 480, Title I to ensure that they comply with the regulations 
and that available funds have not been exceeded.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 65.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Totla Burden Hours: 423.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Winter Pears Grown in Oregon, Washington, and California, 
marketing Order No. 927.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0089.
    Summary of Collection: Marketing Order No 927 (7 CFR Part 927), 
covering winter pears grown in Oregon, Washington, and California 
emanates from enabling legislation (the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937, Secs, 1-19 Stat. 31 as amended; 7 U.S.C. 601-
674). Growers approved the marketing order in referendum, as specified 
by the Act. The order authorizes the issuance of grade, size, quantity, 
inspection, and reporting requirements for any variety of winter pears. 
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will collect information using 
form FV-22, FB-119, FV-119A, and FV-120.
    Needs and use of the Information: AMS will collect information to 
allow growers to vote on amendments or continuance of the marketing 
order.
    Description Of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 1,890.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Biennially.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,567.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Certification of Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It makes 
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance electric, 
telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural areas. 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, 
(RE ACT) and as prescribed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax 
Receivables, which states that agencies must, based on a review of a 
loan application, determine that an applicant complies with statutory, 
regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan 
assistance. A major factor in managing loan programs is controlling the 
advancement of funds. RUS Form 675 allows this control to be achieved 
by providing a list of authorized signatures against which signatures 
requesting funds are compared.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
ensure that only authorized representatives of the borrowers signs the 
lending requisition form. Without the information RUS would not know if 
the request for a loan advance was legitimate or not and so the 
potential for waste, loss, unauthorized use, and misappropriation would 
be increased.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 450.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 45.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

    Title: Long Term Contracting.
    OMB Control Number: 0578-0013.
    Summary of Collection: The Long Term Contracting regulations at 7 
CFR Part 630, and the Conservation program regulations at 7 CFR Parts 
622, 624, 631, 632, 634, 636, 701, 702, 752, 1410, and 1467 set forth 
the basic policies, program provisions, and eligibility requirements 
for owners and opertors to enter into and carry out long-term 
conservation program contracts with technical assistance under the 
various program. These programs authorize federal technical and 
financial long-term cost sharing assistance for conservation treatment 
with eligible land users. The financial assistance is based on a 
conservation plan, which is made a part of an agreement or contract for 
a period of not less than five years to not more than 15 years. Under 
the terms of the agreement, the participant agrees to apply, or arrange 
to apply, the conservation treatment specified in the conservation 
plan. In return for this agreement, federal cost-share payments are 
made to the land user, or third party, upon successful application of 
the conservation treatment. The Natural Resource and Conservation 
Service (NRCS) will collect information using several NRCS forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: NRCS will collect information on 
cost sharing and technical assistance, making land use changes and 
install measure to conserve, develop and utilize soil, water, and 
related natural resources on participant's land. NRCS uses the 
information to ensure the proper utilization of program funds.

[[Page 30562]]

    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 198,517.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 162,388.8.

Barbara LaCour,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-11923 Filed 5-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M