[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63561-63562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27218]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 24, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 63561]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 18, 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.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Agricultural Surveys Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0213.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agriculture Statistics 
Service's (NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue state and 
national estimates of crop and livestock production and collection 
information on related environmental and economic factors. The 
Agricultural Surveys Program is a series of surveys that contains basic 
agricultural data from farmers and ranchers throughout the Nation for 
preparing agricultural estimates and forecasts. The surveys results 
provide the foundation for setting livestock and poultry inventory 
numbers. Estimates derived from the survey supply information needed by 
farmers to make decisions for both short and long-term planning. The 
Agriculture Surveys Program has been modified and the changes are: 
discontinuance of the Fall Area Survey, addition of a Monthly Hog 
Survey, addition of questions regarding losses of cattle and use of 
biotechnology in the production of corn, soybeans, and upland cotton.
    Need and Use of The Information: The surveys provide the basis for 
estimates of the current season's crop and livestock production and 
supplies of grain in storage. Crop and livestock statistics help 
develop a stable economic atmosphere and reduce risk for production, 
marketing, and distribution operations. These commodities affect the 
well being of the nation's farmers, commodities markets, and national 
and global agricultural policy. Users of agricultural statistics are 
farm organizations, agribusiness, state and national farm policy 
makers, and foreign buyers of agricultural products. However, the 
primary user of the statistical information is the producer. 
Agricultural statistics are also used to plan and administer other 
related federal and state programs in such areas as the school lunch 
program, conservation, foreign trade, education, and recreation.
    Collecting the information less frequently would eliminate needed 
data to keep the government and agricultural industry abreast of 
changes at the state and national levels.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 606,800.
    Frequency of Response: Reporting: Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 141,022.

Economic Research Service

    Title: Assessment of WIC Coast-Containment Practices.
    OMB Control Number: 0536-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for conducting studies 
and evaluations of the nation's food assistance programs that are 
administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is the second largest domestic 
food-assistance program in the United States. The need to conduct an 
assessment of the WIC program arises from the legislative mandate in 
the William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998 (42 
U.S.C. 1786; Pub. L. 105-336) to study the impact of cost containment 
in the WIC program. WIC provides a comprehensive set of services, 
including supplemental foods, nutrition education, and increased access 
to health care and social services for pregnant, breastfeeding, and 
postpartum women; infants; and children up to the age of five years. 
ERS will collect information using a survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: ERS will collect information to 
determine access and availability of prescribed foods; actual food 
selections by participants; voucher redemption rates and participants 
use of and satisfaction with prescribed foods; participants on special 
diets or with specific food allergies; achievement of positive health 
outcomes; program costs; and program participation. The information 
will be used in the Assessment of WIC Cost Containment Practices to 
analyze the effects of current cost containment practices established 
by states on program participation, selected participant outcomes, and 
program costs. If the study were not conducted there would be no way to 
assess the consequences, both good and bad, or WIC cost-containment 
practices in order to determine if such practices should be encouraged 
or discouraged by program officials and the Congress.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; State, 
Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,052.

[[Page 63562]]

    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
    Total Burden Hours: 817.

Rural Utility Service

    Title: Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is 
authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to make 
loans to public agencies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for 
the development of water and waste disposal facilities primarily 
servicing rural residents. The guaranteed loan program encourages 
lender participation and provides specific guidance in the processing 
and servicing of guaranteed loans.
    Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development's field offices 
will collect information from applicants/borrowers, lenders, and 
consultants to determine eligibility, project feasibility and to ensure 
borrowers operate on a sound basis and use loan funds for authorized 
purposes. There are agency forms required as well as other requirements 
that involve certifications from the borrower, lenders, and other 
parties. Failure to collect proper information could result in improper 
determinations of eligibility, use of funds and or unsound loans.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 858.

Forest Service

    Title: Application for the Senior Community Service Employment 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0099.
    Summary of Collection: The Senior Community Service Employment 
Program (SCSEP) is administered in conjunction with Title V of the 
Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended. The Secretary of Labor 
administers this program in order to foster and promote useful part-
time opportunities in community services activities for unemployed low-
income persons who are age 55 or older. The Forest Service (FS) 
participates as one of 10 national sponsors under a grant agreement 
from the Department of Labor and operates the SCSEP in 40 states, the 
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Through the SCSEP the vast 
majority of applications become self-reliant and independent of welfare 
programs and have upgraded their skills and transitioned into the 
regular labor market. The FS will collect information using form FS 
1800-21b ``Application for Senior Community Service Employment 
Program.''
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect the following 
information: identification data (name, address, and birth date); 
eligibility information (number in family, income and signature); 
applicant's disposition (family income level determination, eligibility 
determination, community service assignment determination); and other 
information such as age, sex, education level, ethnic group, his/her 
veteran and handicapped position. The information will also be used to 
provide the administrative office within the Department of Labor data 
on the program's enrollment. If the FS does not collect the above data 
from each person applying to the SCSEP, participant eligibility 
determination could not be legally made and the Forest Service could 
forfeit its right to remain a viable program sponsor.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 6,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Other (initial 
application).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,083.

Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-27218 Filed 10-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M