[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7340-7344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3569]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Intent: To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations 
at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice 
announces the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) intention 
to request a revision to a currently approved information collection, 
Long Term Contracting.

DATES: Comments will be received for a 60-day period commencing with 
the date of this publication.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Phyllis I. Williams, 
Agency OMB Clearance Officer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
Department of Agriculture, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5460, 
Beltsville, Maryland 20705-5000; (301) 504-2170; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Application for Payment.
    OMB Number: 0578-0013.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2003.
    Type of Request: To continue with a change of a currently approved 
collection for which the approval will expire.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service (NRCS) is to work in partnership with the American 
people and the farming and ranching community to conserve and sustain 
our natural resources. The purpose of Long-Term Contracting information 
collection is to provide for programs to extend cost sharing and 
technical assistance through long-term contracts to landowners and 
others. These contracts provide for making land use changes and 
installing conservation measures and practices to conserve, develop, 
and use the soil, water, and related natural resources on private

[[Page 7341]]

lands. For cost-share programs, Federal financial and technical 
assistance is based on a conservation plan that is made a part of an 
agreement, contract or easement, for a period of time of no less than 1 
year, no more than 15 years. Under the terms of the agreement, the 
participant agrees to apply, or arrange to apply, the conservation 
treatment specified in the conservation plan. In return for this 
agreement, Federal cost-share payments are made to the land user, or 
third party, upon successful application of the conservation treatment. 
NRCS purchases easement programs and provides for the protection and 
management for the life of the easement.
    The information collected through this package is used by NRCS to 
ensure the proper use of program funds, including the application for 
participation, contract implementation, conservation planning, and 
application for payment. The table below lists the forms in this 
collection, the use of each document, and the applicable programs for 
the information collection. These forms constitute this information 
collection, and reflect the documents used by Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) program participants to indicate their desire to participate in 
one or more of the applicable programs. To obtain copies of forms 
referenced, access the Service Center Web site address at http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov. You may also e-mail your request and/or comments, 
including your address, phone number, and form number, to 
[email protected], or call the Forms Manager at (301) 504-2164.

         OMB 0578-0013, Long-Term Contracting Information Collection Package--Forms Included--7 CFR 630
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Form No.            Forms superceded   Form title and usage    Previous OMB No.        Program \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AD-1153...................  NRCS-LTP-01 and    Application for Long-   0578-0013........  EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP,
                             CCC-1250.          Term Contracted                            WHIP, GRP; FPP
                                                Assistance--(Used for
                                                the initial program
                                                application).
AD-1154...................  NRCS-LTP-02 and    Long Term Contract/     0578-0013........  EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP,
                             CCC-1251.          Agreement for NRCS                         WHIP, GRP; FPP
                                                Cost-Share Programs--
                                                (Used for contract
                                                obligation).
AD-1154D..................  New Program......  Appendix; Special       New Program......  GRP
                                                Provisions for the
                                                Grassland Reserve
                                                Incentives Programs.
AD-1154E..................  .................  Appendix; Special       0578-0013........  FPP
                                                Provisions for the
                                                Farmland Protection
                                                Program.
AD-1155...................  NRCS-LTP-11; CCC-  Conservation Plan/      0578-0013........  EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP,
                             1252.              Schedule of                                WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP,
                                                Operations--(Used to                       GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP,
                                                develop and list the                       RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP,
                                                applicable                                 WQIP; IEQIP, FIP, ECP
                                                conservation
                                                practices/measures to
                                                be applied, the
                                                amounts to be
                                                applied, and the
                                                estimated financial
                                                assistance
                                                obligation).
AD-1155A..................  NRCS-LTP-11B; CCC- Conservation Plan/      0578-0013........  EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP,
                             1252B.             Schedule of                                WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP,
                                                Operations--Acceptanc                      GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP,
                                                e Page--(Used by the                       RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP,
                                                agency and                                 WQIP; IEQIP, FIP, ECP
                                                participant to accept
                                                the Conservation
                                                Plan, summarize the
                                                obligations, and
                                                finalize the
                                                contract).
AD-1156...................  NRCS-LTP-12; CCC-  Revision of Plan or     0578-0013........  EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP,
                             1253.              Schedule of                                WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP,
                                                Operations or                              GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP,
                                                Modifications of                           RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP,
                                                Contract--(Used to                         WQIP; IEQIP, FIP, ECP
                                                make any
                                                modifications to the
                                                practices and/or
                                                measures to be
                                                applied during the
                                                contract period).
AD-1157...................  NRCS-LTP-20A; CCC- Option Agreement to     0578-0013........  WRP, EWP-FPE; GRP
                             1255A.             Purchase--(Used by
                                                the participant to
                                                indicate his/her
                                                desire to continue in
                                                the program after an
                                                initial acceptance of
                                                eligibility has been
                                                provided).
AD-1157A..................  CCC-1255A; NRCS-   Option Agreement to     0578-0013........  WRP; EWP-FPE; GRP
                             LTP-20.            Purchase, Amendment 1.
AD-1158...................  NRCS-LTP21; CCC-   Subordination           0578-0013........  WRP; EWP-FPE; GRP
                             1256.              Agreement and Limited
                                                Lien Waiver `` (Used
                                                to remove
                                                encumbrances of the
                                                title for USDA to
                                                acquire an easement).
AD-1159...................  NRCS-LTP-24; CCC-  Notification of Intent  0578-0013........  WRP; EWP-FPE; GRP
                             1257.              to Continue--(Used by
                                                the participant to
                                                indicate his/her
                                                desire to continue in
                                                the program after an
                                                initial acceptance of
                                                eligibility has been
                                                provided).
AD-1160...................  NRCS-LTP-25; CCC-  Compatible Use          0578-0013........  EWP-FP; WRP; GRP
                             1258.              Authorization--(Used
                                                by the agency to
                                                authorize uses
                                                compatible with the
                                                program purposes as
                                                requested by the
                                                program participant
                                                on easement
                                                acquisitions).

[[Page 7342]]

 
AD-1161...................  NRCS-FNM-141; CCC- Application for         0578-0018........  CRSCP; EWP; FIP; GPCP;
                             1202.              Payment--(Used by the                      IEQIP; RC&D RAMP;
                                                program participant                        FPP; WPFPP; WRP
                                                to apply for payment                       (direct appropriated
                                                in exchange for                            funds); WHIP
                                                implementing one or
                                                more conservation
                                                practices or
                                                measures).
CCC-1200..................  .................  Conservation Program    0560-0174 (Pkg     EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP,
                                                Contract--(Used to      transferred from   FPP, SWCA
                                                make initial            FSA) and 0578-
                                                application, and        0028.
                                                serve as the
                                                contractual document
                                                upon acceptance into
                                                the program).
CCC-1200A.................  .................  Appendix; Special       0560-0174 (Pkg     EQIP
                                                Provisions for the      transferred from
                                                Environmental Quality   FSA) and 0578-
                                                Incentives Program.     0028.
CCC-1200 AMA..............  .................  Appendix; Special       0560-0174 (Pkg     AMA
                                                Provisions for the      transferred from
                                                Agricultural            FSA) and 0578-
                                                Management Assistance   0028.
                                                Program.
CCC-1200C.................  New Program......  Appendix; Special       New Program......  CSP
                                                Provisions for the
                                                Conservation Security
                                                Program.
CCC-1201..................  New..............  Application Evaluation  0560-0174........  EQIP
                                                Worksheet--(Used by
                                                the agency to
                                                evaluate the
                                                environmental
                                                benefits of a
                                                participants proposed
                                                conservation plan of
                                                operations and for
                                                ranking the
                                                applications).
CCC-1245..................  .................  Practice Approval and   0560-01740174      EQIP, AMA, CSP, GRP,
                                                Payment Application     (Package           FPP; SWCA
                                                (Used by the program    transferred from
                                                participant to apply    FSA) and 0578-
                                                for payment in          0028.
                                                exchange for
                                                implementing one or
                                                more conservation
                                                practices or
                                                measures).
CCC-1255..................  .................  Warranty Easement Deed  0578-0013........  WRP
                                                (Permanent)--(Used to
                                                encumber the easement
                                                acreage and transfer
                                                easement to USDA).
CCC-1255A.................  New..............  Option to Purchase      Form No.           WRP
                                                Agreement (30-year)--   Previously used
                                                (Used by the            for another
                                                participant to          purpose.
                                                indicate his/her
                                                desire to continue in
                                                the program after an
                                                initial acceptance of
                                                eligibility has been
                                                provided).
CCC-1255B.................  New..............  Warranty Easement Deed  Form No.           WRP
                                                (30-year)--(Used to     Previously used
                                                encumber the easement   for another
                                                acreage and transfer    purpose.
                                                easement to USDA).
NRCS-CPA-38...............  .................  Request for a           0578-0013........  WC; WRP; EWP-FPEP;
                                                Certified Wetland                          WHIP; CRP
                                                Determination--(Used
                                                by USDA participants
                                                to request a
                                                certified wetland
                                                determination).
NRCS-LTP-13...............  .................  Conservation Program    0578-0013........  EWP-FPEC; WPFPP, WRP,
                                                Status Review--(Used                       WHIP, EQIP, AMA, CSP,
                                                by the agency and the                      GRP, SWCA, CRP, RCWP,
                                                participant to review                      RAMP, GPCP, CRSCP,
                                                the status of                              WQIP; IEQIP, FIP,
                                                contract or agreement                      ECP, CTA; HELC/WC
                                                implementation).
NRCS-LTP-20...............  .................  Warranty Easement Deed  0578-0013........  EWP-FPE
                                                (Permanent)--(Used to
                                                encumber the easement
                                                acreage and transfer
                                                easement to USDA).
NRCS-LTP-151..............  .................  Notice of Agreement or  0578-0013........  CRSCP; GPCP; IEQIP;
                                                Contract Violation--                       RAMP; RCWP; WBP; WHIP
                                                (Used by the agency
                                                to notify contract
                                                holders of contract
                                                violations).
NRCS-LTP-152..............  .................  Transfer Agreement--    0578-0013........  CRSCP; GPCP; IEQIP;
                                                (Used by the agency                        RAMP; RCWP; WBP; WHIP
                                                and the program
                                                participant to
                                                transfer the program
                                                contract or agreement
                                                to another entity).

[[Page 7343]]

 
NRCS-LTP-153..............  .................  Agreement Covering Non- 0578-0013........  CRSCP; GPCP; IEQIP;
                                                Compliance with                            RAMP; RCWP; WBP; WHIP
                                                Contract Provisions--
                                                (Used by the agency
                                                to notify program
                                                participants of non-
                                                compliance with
                                                program contracts or
                                                agreements).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Conservation Programs and Authorities are as follows:
AMA--Agricultural Management Assistance; Pub. L. 106-224, Section 133(b); Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2501
EWP-FPEC--Emergency Watershed Program, Floodplain Easement Component; 16 U.S.C. 2203; 7 CFR 624
CRP--Conservation Reserve Program; 16 U.S.C. 3831-3836; 7 CFR 1410
CRSCP--Colorado River Salinity Control Program; 7 CFR 702
CSP--Conservation Security Program; Pub. L. 107-171, Sections 2001-2006
CTA--Conservation Technical Assistance; 16 U.S.C. 590 a-f
ECP--Emergency Conservation Program; 7 CFR 701
EQIP--Environmental Quality Incentives Program; 16 U.S.C. 3839aa; 3839aa(1-8); 7 CFR 1466
HELC/WC--Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Compliance; 7 CFR 12
FIP--Forestry Incentives Program; Pub. L. 95-313, Sec. 4, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 367; Pub. L. 101-624, title
  XII, Secs. 1214, 1224(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3525, 3542; 7 CFR 701
FPP--Farmland Protection Program; 16 U.S.C. 3830 note; 7 CFR 1469; Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2503
GPCP--Great Plains Conservation Program; 16 U.S.C. 590p(b); 7 CFR 631
GRP--Grassland Reserve Program; Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2401
IEQIP--Interim Environmental Quality Incentives Program; 7 CFR 631 and 7 CFR 702
RAMP--Rural Abandoned Mine Program; 30 U.S.C. 1236 et seq.; 7 CFR 632
RC&D--Resource Conservation & Development Program; Pub. L. 107-171, Section 2504
RCWP--Rural Clean Water Program; 33 U.S.C. 1288 et seq.; Pub. L. 7 CFR 634
SWCA--Soil and Water Conservation Assistance Program; Pub. L. 106-244, Section 211(b)
WBP--Water Bank Program; 16 U.S.C. 1301-1311; 7 CFR 752
WC--Wetland Conservation Compliance; 16 U.S.C. 3801-3824; 7 CFR 12
WHIP--Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program; 16 U.S.C. 3836a; 7 CFR 636
WPFPP--Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program; Pub. L. 83-566; 7 CFR 622
WQIP--Water Quality Incentives Program: 7 CFR 701
WRP--Wetlands Reserve Program; 16 U.S.C. 3837; 3837(a-f); 7 CFR 1467

    This request represents a combination of four Information 
Collection Packages, as follows: OMB Number: 0578-0013, Long Term 
Contracting; OMB Number: 0578-0018, Application for Payment; OMB Number 
0578-0028, Risk Protection Programs; and OMB Number 0560-0174, 
Environmental Quality Incentives Program, (transferred from the Farm 
Service Agency). The above table represents all of the forms 
incorporated into this one information collection, OMB Number 0578-
0013. The table below shows a summary of the changes in the package 
since the previous authorization:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previous Burden Hours...................             162,351.3
                                         -------------
Burden Transferred from OMB Number 0560-     444,609      (+) Adjustment
 0174...................................
Burden Transferred from OMB Number 0578-      20,731      (+) Adjustment
 0018...................................
Burden Transferred from OMB Number 0578-       2,917      (+) Adjustment
 0028...................................
Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic         1,909.2      (-) Adjustment
 Submission, OMB Number 0578-0013.......
Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic         2,961.6      (-) Adjustment
 Submission, OMB Number 0578-0018.......
Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic           416.5      (-) Adjustment
 Submission, OMB Number 0578-0028.......
Burden Hour Reduction for Electronic        66,691.4      (-) Adjustment
 Submission, OMB Number 0560-0174.......
Proposed Burden Hours...................  ..........             558,930
------------------------------------------------------------------------

NRCS will ask for 3-year OMB approval within 60 days of submitting the 
request.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.41 hours or 84.7 minutes per 
response.
    Respondents: Farms, individuals, or households, or State, local, or 
Tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 396,077.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 558,930.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Phyllis Williams, the Agency OMB 
Clearance Officer, at 5602 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5460, Beltsville, 
Maryland 20705-5000; (301) 504-2170; [email protected].
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
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 of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, such as through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technologic collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to: Phyllis Williams, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5602 
Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5460, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-5000; (301) 
504-2170; [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request

[[Page 7344]]

for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of public 
record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2003.
Bruce I. Knight,
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 03-3569 Filed 2-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P