[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 184 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 57161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24086]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 184 / Thursday, September 21, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 57161]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information 
collection activities necessary to provide vendors with an interactive 
web site they can use to track United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) domestic commodity shipments. The new procedure will be more 
reliable and more efficient than the current procedure.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
20, 2000 to be assured consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Borchert, Chief, Planning and 
Analysis Division, Kansas City Commodity Office (KCCO), 6501 Beacon 
Drive, Kansas City, Missouri 64131-4676, telephone (816) 926-6509 or 
fax (816) 926-6767.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Domestic Commodity Tracking System (DCTS).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-New.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) purchases 
agricultural commodities to meet program needs and other objectives. 
CCC issues invitations to purchase agricultural commodities at various 
times during the year. Vendors respond by making offers on the 
contracts. After contracts are awarded, the current process of tracking 
shipments requires manual documentation with data gathering provided by 
telephone and facsimile. The Farm Service Agency (FSA), Kansas City 
Commodity Office (KCCO) has developed information technology to assist 
in tracking of shipments of transported agricultural commodities. The 
DCTS is a customer service endeavor which has emphasis on improved 
service to all customers and increased efficiency in the shipping/
delivery operations. An interactive web site is designed to provide our 
customers with an efficient, user friendly method for inquiring on the 
status of shipments. Recipients and other agencies may utilize this 
service to determine if commodities have been purchased, the target 
delivery date, and date shipment was made. Accurate tracking will 
provide timely shipment information allowing recipients to effectively 
schedule their workforce. DCTS will reduce or eliminate: paperwork, 
document handling, mail and telephone time, postage, facsimile, and 
telephone expenses. The users will include: commodity vendors; 
transportation carriers; State Distributing Agencies; FSA, Dairy & 
Domestic Operations Division; Traffic Management Branch; Agricultural 
Marketing Service; and the Food and Nutrition Service. The equipment 
required to access DCTS is a personal computer, an internet service 
provider, and a netscape browser 4.0 or higher. Vendors will submit 
shipment and late delivery data electronically versus the current 
process of sending a hard copy.
    Estimate of Burden: 3 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Businesses and other for profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 67.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 220.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 737 hours.
    Proposed topics for comments include: (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 collected; 
or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the 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.
    Comments regarding this information collection requirement should 
be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Gregory Borchert, Chief, Planning and 
Analysis Division, Kansas City Commodity Office, 6501 Beacon Drive, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64131-4676, telephone (816) 926-6509 or fax (816) 
926-6767.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on September 13, 2000.
Keith Kelly,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 00-24086 Filed 9-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P