[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 45449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17123]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 9, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 45449]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Commodity Credit Corporation Request for Reinstatement of an 
Approval for an Information Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corporation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request a reinstatement for an 
information collection previously approved in support of the FSA and 
CCC Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures regulations. Provisions in 
the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and in the 
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 have resulted in a decrease in 
burden hours for information collection under the FSA and CCC Debt 
Settlement Polices and Procedures program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before September 
9, 2002 to be assured consideration.
    Additional Information: Thomas F. Harris II, Claims Specialist, 
Financial Management Division, Farm Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0581, 
P.O. Box 2415, Washington, DC 20013-2415; telephone (703) 305-1439.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0146.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of Approval for an Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The information collected under the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) Number 0560-0146, as identified above, is needed to 
enable FSA and CCC to effectively administer the regulations at 7 CFR 
792 (FSA) and 7 CFR 1403 (CCC) relating to debt settlement policies and 
procedures and to the identification of and settlement of outstanding 
claims. Collection of outstanding debts owed to FSA or to CCC can be 
effected by installment payments if a debtor furnishes satisfactory 
evidence of inability to pay a claim in full, and if the debtor 
specifically requests for an installment agreement. Part of the 
requirement is that the debtor furnish this request in writing and with 
a financial statement or other information that would disclose a 
debtor's assets and liabilities. This information is required in order 
to evaluate any proposed plan. Such documentation requests furnished by 
the debtor are also used in the other collection tools employed by both 
FSA and CCC in managing debt settlement policies and procedures. If an 
installment agreement is approved, then a Promissory Note (CCC-279), or 
an approved alternative promissory note format, must be executed 
between the debtor and the FSA/CCC representative(s). The Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996 requires the head of an agency to 
take all appropriate steps to collect delinquent debts before 
discharging such debts. These steps require the employment of these 
information collection forms and formats which have been successfully 
used for the past several years and which have become familiar tools 
for both the agency employees and for the producer. Thus, forms and 
formats already exist and are in use. Having to develop and introduce 
new forms and formats into the market place would add additional 
burdens and costs to both the producer and to the agency in the 
handling of the claim settlement and collection processes and would 
create additional burdens not called for under the Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Producers participating in FSA and CCC programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 125 hours.
    Topics for comment include but are not limited to the following: 
(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; or (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. Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer 
for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503, and to Thomas F. Harris 
II, Claims Specialist, Financial Management Division, Farm Service 
Agency, USDA, STOP 0581, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0581; telephone (703) 305-1439. Copies of the information 
collection may be obtained from Thomas F. Harris II at the above 
address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 28, 2002.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency and Executive Vice President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-17123 Filed 7-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P