[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 180 (Friday, September 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55934-55936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23711]


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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. 180 / Friday, September 15, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 55934]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 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, 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.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    Title: National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0033.
    Summary of Collection: The Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service (CSREES) administers several competitive and non-
competitive grant programs. 7 U.S.C. 450i (Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act) authorizes these programs. CSREES has 
primary responsibility for providing linkages between the Federal and 
State components of a broad-based, national agricultural research, 
extension, and education system. Focused on national issues, its 
purpose is to represent the Secretary of Agriculture and carry out the 
intent of Congress by administering formula and grant funds 
appropriated for agricultural, research, extension, and education. 
Before awards can be made, certain information is required from 
applicants as part of an overall proposal package. CSREES will collect 
information using forms CSREES 1232, 1233, and 1234.
    Need and Use of the Information: CSREES will collect information to 
evaluate proposals and award grants.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government; Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 5,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 20,450.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Agricultural Resource Management, Chemical Use, and Post-
Harvest Chemical Use Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0218.
    Summary of Collection: The primary objective of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to provide the public with 
timely and reliable agricultural production and economic statistics, as 
well as environmental and specialty agricultural related statistics. 
Three surveys--the Agricultural Resource Management Study, the Fruit 
and Vegetable Chemical Use Surveys, and the Post-harvest Chemical Use 
Survey--are critical to NASS' ability to fulfill these objectives and 
to build the Congressionally mandated database on agricultural chemical 
use and related farm practices. NASS uses a variety of survey 
instruments to collect the information in conjunction with these 
studies.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Agricultural Resource 
Management Study provides a robust database of information to address 
varied needs of policy makers. There are many uses for the information 
from this study including an evaluation of the safety of the Nation's 
food supply; input to the farm sector portion of the gross domestic 
product; and as a barometer on the financial condition of farm 
businesses. Data from the Fruit and Vegetable Chemical Use Surveys is 
used to assess the environmental and economic implications of various 
program and policies and the impact on agricultural producers and 
consumers. The results of the Post-harvest Chemical Use Survey are used 
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop Food Quality 
Protection Act risk assessments. Other organizations use this data to 
make sound regulatory decisions.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 122,706.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 41,017.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Census of Agriculture Content Test.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) is responsible for conducting the Census of Agriculture under 
the authority of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997, Public Law 105-
113. In support of this effort, NASS conducts a pilot study 2 years 
prior to each census to test factors affecting response such as 
wording, capability of respondents to answer questions, availability of 
records, and perception of usefulness of the census data. This test is 
important to assessing potential changes prior to making adjustments to 
the full-scale census. The current proposal for the Census of 
Agriculture content test involves the redesign of the collection form 
in intelligent character recognition (ICR) format for scanning, wording 
changes, new content items, and order of the sections. Additionally, a 
substantially lower number of respondents will be

[[Page 55935]]

involved in this content test than in the previous version.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Census of Agriculture Content 
Test is critical to NASS' ability to design a successful census survey. 
The actual Census of Agriculture is required by law every five years 
and serves as the basis for many agriculturally-based decisions. 
Without the content test, NASS would not be able to ensure that the 
actual census involved clear questions that would be easily and 
accurately answered by the affected public.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 122,706.
    Frequency of Respondents: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 41,017.

Rural Business-Cooperative Services

    Title: 7 CFR 2484-F, Rural Cooperative Development Grant.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0006.
    Summary of Collection: This program is administered through State 
Rural Development Offices on behalf of the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Services (RBS). The primary objective of the program is to improve the 
economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development. The 
applicants, who are non-profit corporations or institutions of higher 
education, will provide information using various forms and supporting 
documentation.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will use the information 
collected to evaluate the applicant's ability to carry out the purposes 
of the program. Grant funds will be awarded on a competitive basis 
using a scoring system that gives preference to applications that 
demonstrate a proven track record. If this information were not 
collected, RBS would have not basis on which to evaluate the relative 
merit of each application.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Not for 
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1848.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1944-D, Farm Labor Housing Loan and Grant Policies, 
Procedures, and Authorization.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0045.
    Summary of Collection: Sectin 514 and 516 of Title V of the Housing 
Act of 1949 authorizes Rural Housing Service (RHS) to make loans and 
grants to public, private nonprofit and farm worker organizations for 
developing farm labor. The objective of this program is to provide 
decent, safe, and sanitary housing and related facilities for domestic 
farm labor and migrant labor in areas where needed.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is based 
on the program requirements and regulations which help determine an 
applicant's eligibility for a loan and/or grant. RHS has the 
responsibility for protecting the interest of taxpayer's funds and to 
assure that the objectives of the loan and grant program are carried 
out as intended. Failure to have this information would result in 
illegal and unauthorized use of federal funds.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Not for profit institutions; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 95.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 8524.

Food Nutrition Service

    Title: Monthly Claim For Reimbursement.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0284.
    Summary of Collection: The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 requires 
that educational agencies disburse and appropriate funds during the 
fiscal year for the purposes of carrying out provisions of the Special 
Milk Program (SMP). The National School Lunch Act requires that State 
educational agencies disburse appropriated funds paid to the state for 
any fiscal year for the purposes of fulfilling the earned reimbursement 
set forth in National School Lunch, Breakfast, and Special Milk 
Programs. The Food and Nutrition Service will use the monthly claim 
reimbursement form FNS-806 to fulfill the earned requirements 
identified in these programs. National School Lunch Program (NSLP), 
SMP, and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).
    Need and Use of The Information: The information is collected 
electronically from school authorities that participate in NSLP, School 
Breakfast Program (SBP), and SMP programs. The forms contain meal and 
cost data collected from authorized program participants. Also, these 
forms are an essential part of the accounting system used by the 
subject programs to ensure proper reimbursement. This information is 
collected monthly because of the constant fluctuation in school 
enrollment and program participation. Program participants would not 
receive the monthly reimbursement earned and the Agency would lose 
program accountability, if this information were collected less 
frequently.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Not for profit institutions; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 520.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 2700.

Forest Service

    Title: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0127.
    Summary of Collection: The National Survey on Recreation and the 
Environment (NSRE) 2000 is the latest in a series of surveys conducted 
by the Forest Service (FS) which began in 1960 as the primary source of 
recreation data from the U.S. population. This information is vital for 
federal land managing agencies to obtain an understanding of the 
outdoor recreation participation levels and preferences of the American 
people so that effective policy making, planning, and decision-making 
can occur. Information from the survey is shared with and relied upon 
by organizations outside the federal government including educational 
institutions, private sector companies, state agencies, and other 
governmental organizations as the fundamental source of outdoor 
recreation trend and demand data on a national scale. The survey will 
be administered using a statistically valid sampling methodology 
through computer-assisted telephone interviewing techniques
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information 
nationally from the public to assess trends in recreation participation 
over the years since the survey was last conducted and to estimate 
demand for outdoor recreation among the U.S. population. In addition, 
the survey will collect information from the public on people's 
attitudes and values toward natural resources and their management. The 
information will be used by FS and other federal agencies to develop 
long-range strategic plans, adjust programs and activities to meet 
customer needs and expectations, and better manage federally owned 
lands.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 40,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
    Total Burden Hours: 13,333.
    This is a revision to the number of respondents and burden hours 
reported in the Federal Register on May 2, 2000 (25464). Due to an 
error in estimating, the numbers reported in the register were 20,000 
respondents and 6,000 hours. The revised number for the respondents 
should be 40,000 and 13,333 for the burden hours.

[[Page 55936]]

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Food Stamp Program Identification Cards.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0124.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Stamp Act of 1977 requires that 
photographic identification (ID) cards be used in issuance situations 
in which the Department believes that it would be useful to protect the 
integrity of the Food Stamp Program (FSP). These requirements are 
essential to ensure the integrity of the FSP. The ID is required by 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regulation to be a controlled 
document, laminated with a serial number and a photograph.
    Need and Use of the Information: Photo ID are used by issuance 
agents to identify households for monthly issuance; by retailers to 
identify households when benefits are used; and by households to 
provide proof at recertification and when picking up monthly 
allotments. The use of the photo ID card and the requirement to show it 
to obtain benefits is crucial to the agency's ability to protect the 
integrity of the Food Stamp Program.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 329,293.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 21,250.

Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-23711 Filed 9-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M