[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77036-77038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31571]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Reinstatement, Without Change, of 
PreviouslyApproved information Collection That Has Expired for 
Stewardship Incentive Program

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved, but now expired, information collection required for 
participation of non-industrial private forest owners in the State and 
Private Forestry Stewardship Incentive Program. The collected 
information identifies (1) the Stewardship Incentive Program assignment 
of payment, (2) Internal Revenue Service income reporting requirements 
for participants, and (3) the participants' delegated power of 
attorney.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 14, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed 
to Forest Service, USDA, Attn: Stewardship Coordinator, Cooperative 
Forestry Staff, Mail Stop

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1123, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1123. 
Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via 
facsimile to (202) 205-1271.
    The public may inspect comments received at the offices of the 
Cooperative Forestry Staff, Sidney Yates Building, 4th Floor SE, 201 
14th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250, during normal business hours. 
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-1694 to facilitate 
entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal Brockman, Cooperative Forestry 
Staff, (202) 205-1694; or Susan Stein, Cooperative Forestry Staff, 
(202) 205-0837.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is seeking a 
reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved, but now 
expired, information collection authorized under Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0596-0120 and required for 
participation of non-industrial private forest owners in the State and 
Private Forestry Stewardship Incentive Program. Several Forest Service 
information collection forms are approved under this authorization 
number: Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP)-36, Assignment of Payment; 
SIP-211, Power of Attorney; SIP-211-1, Power of Attorney for Husband 
and Wife; and SIP-502, Payment Limitation Review. The collected 
information is used to facilitate the participation of non-industrial 
private forest owners in the State and Private Forestry Stewardship 
Incentive Program.
    An additional form, AD-245, SIP Request for Cost-Shares, also is 
used when applying for cost-share funds. A request for extension of 
approval for this information collection is being requested by the Farm 
Service Agency(OMB 0560-0082), which works cooperatively with the 
Forest Service to administer the Stewardship Incentive Program.
    Data gathered in this information collection are not available from 
other sources.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: SIP-36, Assignment of Payment.
    OMB Number: 0596-0120.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2002.
    Type of request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection that has expired.
    Abstract: The non-industrial private forest landowner completes 
SIP-36 to assign a cost-share payment to a third party. The information 
requested includes the payment amount assigned and the names, 
addresses, and signatures of assignor and assignee.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 10 minutes.
    Types of Respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 167 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: SIP-211, Power of Attorney.
    OMB Number: 0596-0120.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2002.
    Type of request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection that has expired.
    Abstract: The non-industrial private forest landowner completes 
SIP-211 to appoint power of attorney for the landowner. The landowner 
indicates in this form whether power of attorney is being granted for 
(1) all actions; (2) the signing of an application; (3) the receiving 
of payments; (4) pledge of agreements; (5) the making of reports; or 
(6) other. It is signed by the landowner and witnesses.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 5 minutes.
    Types of Respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 83 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: SIP-211-1, Power of Attorney for Husband and Wife.
    OMB Number: 0596-0120.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2002.
    Type of request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection that has expired.
    Abstract: Participants who are husband and wife and who wish to 
assign each other power of attorney complete Form SIP-211-1. It 
requires the husband and wife to print and sign their names on the 
form.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 5 minutes.
    Types of Respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 83 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: SIP-502, Payment Limitation Review.
    OMB Number: 0596-0120.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2002.
    Type of request: Reinstatement of a previously approved information 
collection that has expired.
    Abstract: To ensure they have not exceeded the cost-share payment 
limit for a fiscal year and also to meet Internal Revenue Service 
income reporting requirements, non-industrial private forest owners 
complete SIP-502. A landowner is not allowed to receive more than 
$10,000 in SIP cost-share payments in a single fiscal year. Program 
participants provide their name and address, entity identification 
number, and date entity formed. They also check off the type of entity 
(e.g., individual, irrevocable trust, revocable trust, corporation, 
limited partnership, general partnership, joint venture, estate, or 
other). Participants also list all stockholders, members, heirs, or 
beneficiaries having an interest in the entity.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 25 minutes.
    Types of Respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 417 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on

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respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

Use of Comments

    All comments received in response to this notice, including name 
and address when provided, will become a matter of public record. 
Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized and 
included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: December 4, 2002.
Joel D. Holtrop,
Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 02-31571 Filed 12-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P