[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53696-53698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22580]


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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 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 5, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 53696]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 29, 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.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0097.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Foreign Investment 
Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires foreign investors to report in a timely 
manner all held, acquired, or transferred U.S. agricultural land to the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Authority for the collection of 
the information was delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture to the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA). Foreign investors may obtain form FSA-153, 
AFIDA Report, from their local FSA county office or from the FSA 
Internet site. Investors are required to file a report within 90 days 
of the acquisition, transfer, or change in the use of their land.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected from the 
AFIDA Reports is used to monitor the effect of foreign investment upon 
family farms and rural communities and in the preparation of a 
voluntary report to Congress and the President. Congress reviews the 
report and decides if regulatory action is necessary to limit the 
amount of foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land. If this 
information was not collected, USDA could not effectively monitor 
foreign investment and the impact of such holdings upon family farms 
and rural communities.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Farm.
    Number of Respondents: 4,375.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,108.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Sugar Payment-In-Kind (PIK) Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Due to historically low prices for sugar 
combined with high government inventories, the Secretary of Agriculture 
has directed the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to implement a Sugar 
Payment-In-Kind (PIK) Diversion Program. The purpose of this program is 
to help restore balance to the sugar market, reduce the amount of 
forfeitures otherwise expected, and eliminate the Commodity Credit 
Corporation's (CCC) sugar inventory, thereby also eliminating storage 
costs. In order to participate in the program, sugar producers will 
submit bids indicating the dollar value of CCC sugar that they are 
willing to accept to divert acres from production. Producers will 
submit the required bid information on form FSA-744. This form will 
also serve as the contract between the CCC and the producer if their 
bid is accepted.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will use the information 
collected to determine which sugar producers are eligible to 
participate in the Sugar PIK Program. If the information is not 
collected, FSA would not have a basis for evaluating which sugar bids 
to accept.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 6,654.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one-time).
    Total Burden Hours: 3,327.
    Agency is requesting an emergency approval by 8/21/00.

Risk Management Agency

    Title: Dairy Options Pilot Program (DOPP), Round 2.
    OMB Control Number: 0563-0058.
    Summary of Collection: Risk Management Agency (RMA) request 
approval for a regular submission as a result of expansion and changes 
of the pilot program. Section 191 of the Federal Agricultural 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture to conduct a pilot program for one or more agricultural 
commodities to determine the feasibility of the use of futures and 
options as risk management tools to protect producers from fluctuations 
in prices, yield and income.
    The objective of Dairy Options Pilot Program (DOPP) is to ascertain 
whether put options can provide dairy producers with an effective risk 
management tool by providing reasonable protection from volatile dairy 
prices. A put option is a contract traded on eligible markets that 
gives the buyer the right but not the obligation to sell the underlying 
futures contact at the strike price on or before an established 
expiration date. Forms will be used to collect the information.
    Need and Use of the Information: RMA will analyze the data and 
information collected in order to evaluate and recommend changes to the

[[Page 53697]]

DOPP in a report should it be decided to make a dairy options program a 
permanent program for dairy producers. The information collected by RMA 
will be used to establish producer eligibility; to verify compliance of 
participating producers and brokers, and evaluating the effectiveness 
of put options as a risk management tool for dairy farmers.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farms; 
Business or other for-profit; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 6,150.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Semi-annually and 
as funds permit.
    Total Burden Hours: 31,701.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1924-A, Planning and Performing Construction and 
Other Development.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0042.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is the 
credit Agency for rural housing and community development within the 
Rural Development mission area of the United States Department of 
Agriculture. RHS offers a supervised credit program to build modest 
housing and essential community facilities in rural areas. Section 501 
of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture to extend financial assistance to construct, improve, 
alter, repair, replace, or rehabilitate dwellings, farm buildings and/
or related facilities to provide decent, safe sanitary living 
conditions and adequate farm building and other structures in rural 
areas. RHS will collect information using several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS will collect information to 
determine whether a loan/grant can be approved, and to ensure that RHS 
has adequate security for the loans financed. The information will be 
used to monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the Agency 
loan/grant and to monitor the prudent use of Federal funds. If the 
information is not collected and submitted, RHS would have no control 
over the type and quality of construction and development work planned 
and performed with Federal funds.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 25,340.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Report: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 94,924.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1956-C, Debt Settlement--Community and Business 
Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0124.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Housing Service (RHS) request an 
extension of currently approve information collection 7 CFR part 1956, 
subpart C Debt Settlement-Community and Business Programs. This subpart 
delegates authority, prescribes policies and procedures for the debt 
settlement in connection with Community Facility loans and grants, 
Water and Waste Disposal Systems loans; direct Business and Industry 
loans, Indian Tribal Land Acquisition loans, Irrigation and Drainage, 
and shift-in-Land use loans.
    Rural Development including RHS, the Rural Business--Cooperative 
Service (RBS), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and the Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) are the credit agencies for agricultural and rural 
development for the United States Department of Agriculture. They offer 
supervised credit to develop, improve and operate family farms, modest 
housing, essential community facilities, and business and industry 
across rural America.
    Need and Use of the Information: The debt settlement program 
provides the delinquent client with an equitable tool for the 
compromise, adjustment, cancellation, or charge-off of a debt owed to 
the Agency. The information collected is similar to that required by a 
commercial lender in similar circumstances. The field offices will 
collect information from applicants, borrowers, consultants, lenders, 
and attorneys. Failure to collect the information could result in 
improper servicing of these loans.
    Description of Respondents: Not for profit institutions; 
Individuals, Households; Business or other for-profit; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 16.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 880.

Rural Business--Cooperative Service

    Title: CFG 1942--G ``Rural business Enterprise Grants and 
Television Demonstration Grants''.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0022.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBS) 
request an extension for a currently approved information collection in 
support of the program for 7 CFR Part 1942-G Rural Business Enterprise 
Grants and Television Demonstration Grants (TDG). TDG are available to 
statewide, private nonprofit, public television systems to provide 
information on agriculture and other issues of importance to farmers 
and other rural residents.
    This regulation covers the operation of this program and includes 
provisions to remove pass through grants as an eligible use of grants 
in connection with technical assistance, provisions that the amount 
funded for a project will not be subject to a dollar limitation, and 
specific eligibility requirements to determine how RBS evaluates the 
information.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will use this information to 
determine (1) eligibility; (2) the specific purposes for which grant 
funds will be utilized; (3) time frames or dates by which actions 
surrounding the use of funds will be accomplished; (4) who will be 
carrying out the purposes for which the grant is made; (5) project 
priority; (6) applicants experience in administering a rural economic 
development program; (7) employment improvement; and (8) mitigation of 
economic distress of a community through the creation or salvation of 
jobs or emergency situations. If the information were not collected, 
RBS would not be able to determine the eligibility of applicant(s) for 
the authorized purposes. Collecting this information infrequently would 
have an adverse effect on the Agency's ability to administer the grant 
program.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farms; 
Business or other for profit; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 720.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly; On 
Occasion; Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 40,650.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: WIC Program Regulations--Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0043.
    Summary of Collection: The WIC Program is authorized by the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, and is administered by State and 
local health departments in accordance with WIC Program regulations at 
7 CFR Part 246. State Plans are used by the Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) as the principal source of information that shows how each State 
agency WIC Program operates.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
determine eligibility for program applicants; ensure appropriate and 
efficient management of the program; evaluate vendor trends and assess 
State agency efforts to control vendor fraud and abuse. The information 
collected is used

[[Page 53698]]

by FNS to manage, plan, evaluate and account for Government resources. 
If the information were not collected the effectiveness of the program 
would be jeopardized, program funds would be improperly used and the 
Department and State agencies would be out of compliance with Federal 
laws.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 7,642,801.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Report: Semi-annually; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,568,107.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-22580 Filed 9-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M