[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38234-38235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15468]


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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 
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 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. 119 / Tuesday, June 20, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38234]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 15, 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: Guaranteed Farm Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0155.
    Summary of Collection: The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (CONTACT), as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
make and service loans guaranteed by FSA to eligible farmers and 
ranchers. The statutory authorities for the guaranteed loan program is 
set out in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Chapter VII, part 
762. The loans made and serviced under 762 include farm operating, farm 
ownership, and soil and water loans. The loan applicant must be a 
citizen of the United States, own and operate or become the owner and 
operator of not larger than a family size farm and be unable to obtain 
sufficient credit elsewhere at reasonable rates and terms. The Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using several agency 
forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine lender and loan applicant eligibility for farm loan 
guarantees, and to ensure the government's financial interests are 
protected by the lender. FSA will collect some supporting material 
electronically, via facsimile, telephone, or on line and some 
information is obtained from other agencies or program areas. If the 
information were not collected, this would result in unsound loan-
making actions due to lack of sufficient information available.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 14,500.
    Frequency of Respondents: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 228,014.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Food Stamp Program--Store Applications.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0008.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Stamp Program (FSP) is designed to 
promote the general welfare and safeguard the health and well being of 
the Nation's population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income 
households. Section 2 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended states 
in part, that ``* * * a Food Stamp Program is herein authorized which 
will permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet 
through normal channels of trade by increasing food purchasing power 
for all eligible households who apply for participation.'' Section 9(a) 
of the Act requires that regulations provide for an application to be 
submitted by retailers and wholesalers to request approval for 
authorization to accept and redeem food coupons. The need to collect 
information is established under the Act to determine the eligibility 
of retail food stores, wholesale food concerns, and food service 
organizations applying for authorization to accept and redeem food 
stamp benefits, to monitor these firms for continued eligibility, to 
sanction stores for noncompliance with the Act, and for program 
management. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will collect 
information using forms FNS-252, Food Stamp Application for Store, 
FNS252-R, Food Stamp Program Application for Stores-Reauthorization, 
and FNS 252-2, Application to Participate in the Food Stamp Program for 
Communal Dining Facility/Others.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
determine a firm's eligibility for participation in the Food Stamp 
program, program administration, compliance monitoring and 
investigations, and for sanctioning stores found to be violating the 
program. FNS is also responsible for requiring updates to application 
information and reviewing that information to determine whether or not 
the retail food store, wholesale food concern, or food service 
organization continues to meet eligibility requirements. Owners 
Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) and Social Security Numbers (SSN) 
may be disclosed to and used by Federal agencies or instrumentalities 
that otherwise gave access to EINs and SSNs. FNS and other Federal 
Government agencies examine such information during compliance reviews, 
audit review, special studies or evaluation efforts.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; Farms; Federal Government.
    Number of Repondents: 62,621.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

[[Page 38235]]

    Total Burden Hours: 14,812.

William McAndrew,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-15468 Filed 6-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M