[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 160 (Thursday, August 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50174-50176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20915]


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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. 160 / Thursday, August 17, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 50174]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 11, 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, 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.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Monthly Hog Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics 
Service's (NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue State and 
national estimates of crop and livestock production and related 
economic factors. The information collection is being submitted to 
implement a Monthly Hog Survey Program. Implementation of a monthly hog 
survey is specified in Title IX--Livestock Mandatory Reporting, 
Subtitle C--Related Swine Reporting Provisions, Section 931, 
Improvement of Hogs and Pigs Inventory Report, which passed as part of 
the fiscal year 2000 Agricultural Appropriations Bill in October 1999. 
The Monthly Hog Survey Program will supplement the Hog Survey Program 
currently conducted as part of the Quarterly Agricultural Survey. The 
monthly surveys will use a shorter version of the quarterly 
questionnaire and will be conducted eight times a year, during the 
months between the Quarterly Hog Surveys.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information to 
determine production and marketing strategies, by the agricultural 
industry to assess markets and potential demand for products, and by 
the Federal government to analyze potential and actual production.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 3,300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (8 off qtr. months).
    Total Burden Hours: 3,658.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Women on U.S. Farms.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics 
Services (NASS) requests approval to expand the knowledge base 
concerning the participation of women in agriculture through a one-time 
telephone interview study. The last national-level study about women's 
participation in agriculture occurred in 1980 and was limited in the 
extent to which it addressed these issues. While specific tasks 
performed by people on farms have continued to change, NASS has limited 
information about how these changes have affected women. The U.S. 
Census of Agriculture, the leading source of statistics about 
agricultural production and farm operators in the United States, 
undercounts women's involvement in farm enterprises because only one 
operator per farm is counted.
    Need and Use of the Information: The proposed information 
collection will address the following: (1) The nature and extent of 
women's participation in on-farm tasks and decision-making; (2) the 
type and level of their involvement in off-farm employment and in the 
informal economy; (3) characteristics of the farm operation; and (4) 
socio-demographic characteristics of the woman herself. Interviews will 
be conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. 
The findings from the proposed study will provide information for 
developing government policies and programs that can more effectively 
serve women and men who live and work on farms, lower structural 
barriers and increase opportunities for women.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One time).
    Total Burden Hours: 2178.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Preloan Procedures and Requirements for Telecommunications 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0079.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It makes mortgage 
loans and loan guarantees to finance telecommunications, electric, 
water and waste facilities in rural areas. RUS manages loan programs in 
accordance with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et. 
seq. (RE Act). The Act authorizes the Administrator to make loans to 
qualified telephone companies for the purpose of providing telephone 
service to the widest practicable number of rural subscribers. RUS 
collects information as a part of the loan-making process using several 
forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine an applicant's eligibility to borrow from RUS under the terms 
of the RE Act. The information is also used to determine that the 
Government's security for loans made by RUS are

[[Page 50175]]

reasonably adequate and that the loans will be repaid within the time 
agreed. Without the information, RUS could not effectively monitor each 
borrower's compliance with the loan terms and conditions to properly 
ensure continued loan security.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,621.

Rural Business-Cooperative Services

    Title: Annual Survey of Farmer Cooperatives.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0007.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Business-Cooperative Services 
(RBS) was mandated the responsibility to acquire and disseminate 
information pertaining to agricultural cooperatives under the 
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926: 7 U.S.C. 451-457 and Public Law No. 
450. The primary objective of RBS is to promote understanding, use, and 
development of the cooperative form of business as a viable option for 
enhancing the income of agricultural producers and other rural 
residents. The annual survey collects basic statistics on cooperative 
business volume, net income, members, financial status, employees, and 
other selected information to support RBS' objective and role. RBS will 
use a variety of forms to collect information.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS uses the information collected 
for program planning, evaluation of service work, and cooperative 
analysis and education. By not collecting this information, the RBS 
would have difficulty carrying out its policy on farmer cooperatives.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2649.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2404.

Economic Research Service

    Title: The Use of Food Safety Practices in Meat and Poultry 
Manufacturing and the Costs of the HACCP Regulation.
    OMB Control Number: 0536-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Recent estimates suggest that microbial 
pathogens cause 6.5-33 million cases of human illness and up to 9,000 
deaths each year. The findings have made food safety a major White 
House policy priority and have led to the enactment of the Pathogen 
Reduction Act of 1996. The Act mandates that meat and poultry slaughter 
and ground meat processing plants must comply with Salmonella standards 
established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) and adopt generic E. coli pathogen testing. 
The Act also requires all meat and poultry slaughter and processing 
plants to write, maintain, and comply with standard Sanitation 
Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and implement and comply with Hazard 
Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) quality control points. The 
Economic Research Service (ERS) has the responsibility for providing 
economic research on the economics of food safety in the meat and 
poultry industries. ERS has agreed to conduct a cost analysis of the 
Pathogen Reduction Act to meat and poultry slaughter and processing 
manufacturing plant.
    Need and Use of the Information: ERS will collect data to explore 
issues related to the costs and effectiveness of the Pathogen Reduction 
Act of 1996 and adoption and use of food safety equipment, methods, and 
sanitation practices. The data will also enhance ERS' ability to answer 
questions related to the costs of anticipated food safety regulatory 
changes and provide information on the strength and pervasiveness of 
the industry's commitment to food safety quality control. Without the 
data from the survey, policy makers are handicapped by a lack of 
detailed knowledge of the equipment, methods, and sanitation practices 
that plants employ to control pathogens in meat and poultry products.
    Description of Respondents: Busienss or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1312.5.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One-time Survey).
    Total Burden Hours: 656.25.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Honey Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0153.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics 
Service's (NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue State and 
national estimates of crop and livestock production. General authority 
for these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 
7, Section 2204. Domestic honeybees are critical to the pollination of 
U.S. crops, especially fruits and vegetables. Africanized bees, 
parasites, diseases, and pesticides threaten the survival of bees. NASS 
will collection information us8ing a survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on 
the number of colonies, honey production, stocks, and prices. The 
survey will provide data needed by the Department and other government 
agencies to administer programs and to set trade quotas and tariffs. 
Without the information agricultural industry would not be aware of 
changes at the State and national level.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 9,248.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,492.

Foreign Agricultural Services

    Title: Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Regulation.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0001.
    Summary of Collection: The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) 
requests an extension of the current approved information collection in 
support of the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing program. The 
Import Regulation 1, Regulation 1, Revision 8 governs the 
administration of the import licensing system for certain dairy 
products subject to tariff-rate quotas (TRQs). Imports of nearly all 
cheese made from cow's milk (except soft ripened cheese such as Brie) 
and certain non-cheese dairy products are subject to TRQs and the 
licensing provision of Revision 8. Applicants must submit the required 
form each quota year, January 1st through December 31st, to apply for 
and receive an import license.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will use the information to 
ensure that the intent of the legislation is correctly administered and 
to determine an applicant's eligibility to obtain benefits. If the 
information were collected less frequently, FSA would be unable to 
issue licenses on an annual basis in compliance with the regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 440.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 270.

Agricultural Marketing Services

    Title: Marketing Order Committee/Board Interview.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 
under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 
1937, regulates certain agricultural commodities for the purpose of 
providing orderly marketing conditions in interstate commerce and 
improving returns to producers. AMS would like to conduct a series of 
interviews to gather information from marketing order and agreement 
managers and committee or board members. The participants would be 
asked about their concerns about serving on marketing order or 
agreement

[[Page 50176]]

committees or boards. Other questions would focus on developing an 
understanding of what motivates participation by committee or board 
members in providing oversight of marketing order and agreement 
committees and boards. The interviews would be conducted by a 
contractor and are estimated to take approximately one hour.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS will collect qualitative 
information to develop a baseline for understanding how to work with 
all industry representatives more effectively, how to assist existing 
members in clarifying perceived barriers to more effective oversight by 
industry members, and how to help AMS support leadership growth. 
Ultimately, AMS hopes to use the information gathered to lay the 
groundwork for a Leadership Development Program that would increase 
participation by all groups in committee and board activities.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 50.
    Agency has requested emergency approval by August 18, 2000.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Assessment of Computer Matching in the Food Stamp Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is 
responsible for the development and implementation of national Food 
Stamp Program policy. State agencies are responsible for administration 
of the Food Stamp Program with FNS monitoring State operations and 
evaluating performance. One method used by States to verify the 
eligibility of new food stamp applicants and the continuing eligibility 
of current recipients is computer matching. A variety of databases are 
available for this use. FNS plans to conduct a census of the State 
agencies to gather current information on (1) How States use external 
databases that have been available to them for several years; and (2) 
newer matching strategies that have been suggested as relevant to the 
Food Stamp program or mandated by legislation. The study will be 
conducted with the support of a contractor who will use telephone 
interviews as a means of gaining answers to a set of predetermined 
questions.
    Need and Use of the Information: The data collected in this study 
will provide FNS with a comprehensive overview of how States are 
currently using computer matching strategies for error reduction in the 
Food Stamp Program. The results of the study will provide FNS with 
valuable information that can inform decision making; assist in policy 
development; and influence program design decisions. The primary users 
of the information will be FNS headquarters, FNS regional offices, 
State Food Stamp agencies, Congress and other Federal agencies 
concerned with program integrity issues. If this information is not 
collected, then FNS' ability to improve the integrity of the Food Stamp 
Program with respect to computer matching will be impaired.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 16.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One time).
    Total Burden Hours: 212.

Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-20915 Filed 8-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M