[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 18069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8416]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 66 / Thursday, April 5, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 18069]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public comment period on the 
information collection requests (ICRs) associated with crop insurance 
policies administered by Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC).

DATES: Written comments on this notice will be accepted until close of 
business June 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Risk Management Education Division, Risk Management Agency, United 
States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 
0808, Portals Building, 5th Floor, Suite 508, Washington, DC, 20250-
0808.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Craig 
Witt, Director, Risk Management Education Division, Risk Management 
Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Stop 0808, Portals Building, 5th Floor, Suite 508, 
Washington, DC, 20250-0808.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Dairy Options Pilot Program; DOPP III.
    OMB Number: 0563-0058.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 29, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 191 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act (FAIR) of 1996 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture 
(Secretary) 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 price, yield and income. Accordingly, the Secretary directed RMA to 
develop DOPP. Section 134 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act 
(ARPA) of 2000 amends section 191 of FAIR. In doing so, an expansion of 
eligible pilot counties to a maximum of 300 is authorized, except that 
no more than 25 counties may be in any one State.
    The purpose of this notice is to announce the availability of DOPP 
in new States and counties and provide the new terms and conditions of 
the program.
    DOPP is intended to offer an educational experience to dairy 
producers whose need for risk management tools has risen sharply as a 
result of unprecedented price volatility, the reduction of price 
supports, and the current unavailability of production or price 
insurance. The program represents a joint initiative between RMA and 
the private sector. DOPP procedures were first proposed to RMA by the 
Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange (CSCE), known as the New York Board of 
Trade (NYBOT). During the development of this program, the Chicago 
Mercantile Exchange (CME) provided additional recommendations. The 
intended educational benefits of DOPP include the preparation of 
producers to manage their price risk independently through the milk 
futures and options markets.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend 
its approval of our use of this information collection activity for an 
additional 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
concerning this information collection activity. These comments will 
help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1.0 hours per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Parties affected by the information 
collection requirements included in this Notice are dairy producers, 
and brokers.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 9,625.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 6.9.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 36,300.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 38,015.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request from OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 29, 2001.
Phyllis W. Honor,
Acting Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 01-8416 Filed 4-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P