[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 103 (Friday, May 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34138-34139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13236]


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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. 103 / Friday, May 26, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 34138]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 22, 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 partical 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 infomration 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.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: 7 CFR 1910-A Receiving and Processing Applications.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0178.
    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 * * *'' Section 339 (7 U.S.C. 1989) of the 
CONACT further provides ``the Secretary is authorized to make such 
rules and regulations, prescribe the terms and conditions for making 
and insuring loans, security instruments and agreements, except as 
otherwise specified herein, and make such delegations of authority as 
he deems necessary to carry out this title.'' 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 collections necessary for FSA to make and service direct 
loans. These loans include Operating, Farm Ownership, Soil and Water, 
Softwood Timber Production, Emergency, Economic Emergency, Economic 
Opportunity, Recreation, and Rural Housing loans for Farm Service 
Buildings. FSA will collect information using loan applications.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine eligibility and financial feasibility on respondent's 
requests for loans. The information is required to insure that FSA 
provides assistance to applicants who have reasonable prospects of 
repaying the government and meet statutory eligibility requirements.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; individuals or households; 
business or other-for-profit; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 34,970.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (Eligibility).
    Total Burden Hours: 119,412.

Forest Service

    Title: Application for Permit Non-Federal Commercial Use of Roads 
by Order.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0016.
    Summary of Collection The forest Service (FS) transporation system 
includes approximately 380,000 miles of roads. These roads are grouped 
into five maintenance levels. Level one includes roads, which are 
closed and maintained only to protect the environment. Level of 
maintenance increase to level five, which is maintained for safe 
passenger car use. The roads usually provide the only access to 
commercial products including timber and minerals found on both Federal 
and private lands within and adjacent to National Forests. Annual 
maintenance not performed becomes a backlog that creates a financial 
burden for the FS. To remedy the backlog and pay for needed maintenance 
the FS requires commercial users to apply and pay for a permit to use 
the FS Road System. Maintenance resulting from commercial use is 
accomplished through collection of funds or requiring the commercial 
users to perform the maintenance. The vehicle for this is the Road Use 
Permit. The authority for the Road Use Permit process comes from 36 CFR 
212.5, 36 CFR 212.9 and 36 CFR 261.54 Section 212.9 authorizes the FS 
to develop a road system with private in holders that is mutually 
beneficial to both parties. FS will collect information using form FS 
7700-40.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect the name; address; 
and telephone number; description of mileage of roads; purpose of use; 
use schedule; and plans for future use. The information is used by the 
FS to identify the road maintenance that is the direct result of the 
applican't traffic, to calculate any applicable collections for 
recovery of past Federal investments in roads. Without the Road Use 
Permit the backlog of maintenance would increase and the FS would have 
great difficulty providing the transportation system necessary to meet 
our mission.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 2000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours 500.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Lamb Meat Adjustment Assistance Program (LMAAP).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Lamb Meat Adjustment Assistance Program 
(LMAAP) is administered and implemented under the general

[[Page 34139]]

direction of and supervision of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) through 
its State and County Committees. The LMAAP is authorized by the Act of 
August 24, 1935, clause (3) of section 32, and are implemented by 
regulations at 7 CFR Part 748, which provide for the reestablishment of 
farmers' purchasing power by making payments in connection with the 
normal production of any agricultural commodity for domestic 
consumption. Recently the surge of low-priced, imported lamb-meat 
causes the threat of injury to U.S. producers in the sheep and lamb 
industry. The objective of the program is to make direct payments to 
producers of sheep and lamb operations to help them weather the current 
economic crisis, as well as, help improve their production efficiencies 
and the marketability of lamb meat during the 3 year period from July 
21, 1999, through July 31, 2002. FSA will collect information using 
forms FSA-382 and 383.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect the following 
information: (1) Sheep and lamb operation name; (2) each related 
producer's name; (3) ID number and shares; (4) the number of rams 
purchased for the intended purpose of breeding; (5) the number of 
eligible sheep enrolled in and eligible sheep improvement program; and/
or (6) the type and cost of the facility improvement. The information 
is needed to verify commodity and producer eligibility and calculate 
payment amounts. Without the information from the producers, FSA would 
be unable to administer the program to provide direct payments to the 
sheep and lamb operations.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; Individuals or households; 
Business or other-for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 60,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 25,000.
    Agency is requesting and emergency approval by May 20, 2000.

William McAndrew,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-13236 Filed 5-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M