[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14390-14393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6974]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 57 / Tuesday, March 25, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 14390]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 19, 2003.
    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 
Offier 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) 720-8681.
    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.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Export Assistance and Services.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0031.
    Summary of Collection: The Ag Export Services Division of the 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) facilities trade contacts between 
U.S. exporters and foreign buyers seeking U.S. food and agricultural 
products. Authority for this program falls under 7 U.S.C. part 1761, 7 
U.S.C. part 5693 and 7 U.S.C. part 1765B. All of the assistance and 
services offered by the Division are designed to promote U.S. 
agricultural exports; help U.S. firms make contact with export agents, 
trading companies, importers and foreign buyers and create an 
opportunity to sell their products in overseas markets. This service 
provides the U.S. firm an opportunity to have a data record providing 
basic information about the company and the products its exports put 
into a USDA maintained database. FAS will collect information using a 
combination of forms and telephone interviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information on 
contact names, mailing addresses, telephones, fax, e-mail, and 
websites. The main purpose for collecting the information is to foster 
trade contacts in an effort to facilitate greater export of U.S. 
agriculture food, forestry, and fishery products. The databases are 
used to recruit U.S. exporters, importers, and buyers to participate in 
market development activities sponsored by USDA. These databases must 
be updated periodically to maintain the integrity and usefulness to the 
trade community.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 57,110.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: annually; on occasion; 
quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 10,476.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Report of Acreage.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0004.
    Summary of Collection: Land and crop information is the basic 
foundation upon which many of Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs 
operate. The report of acreage is conducted on an annual basis and is 
used by FSA's county offices to determine eligibility for benefits that 
are available to producers on the farm. The actual number of producers 
who must supply information varies depending on: (1) The type of 
farming operation, and (2) the mix of crops planted (which has a direct 
relationship to the type of program the producer is eligible to 
participate in). In order to establish eligibility annually for these 
programs, a minimal amount of land and crop data about a producer's 
farming operation is required. The information is subsequently used to 
ensure compliance with program provisions, to determine actual 
production histories, and when disaster occurs, to verify crop loss. 
Producers must provide the information each year because variables such 
as previous year experience, weather projections, market demand, new 
farming techniques and personal preferences affect the amount of land 
being farmed, the mix of crops planted, and the projected harvest.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information 
verbally from the producers during visits to the county offices. FSA 
will collect one or more of the following data elements, as required: 
crop planted, planting date, crop's intended use, type or variety, 
practice (irrigated or non-irrigated), acres, location of the crop 
(tract and field), and the producer's percent share in the crop along 
with the names of other producers having an interest in the crop. Once 
the information is collected and eligibility established, the 
information is used throughout the crop year to ensure the producer 
remains complaint with program provisions. Without a certain level of 
information provided each crop year by the producer, a significant 
misuse of public funds could occur.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; individuals or households; 
State, local, or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 514,800.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 755,325.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Farm Reconstitutions (7 CFR part 718).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0025.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Act of 1938, as amended, 
provides for the reconstitution of farms. A reconstitution is a change 
in the land constituting a farm as a result of combining or dividing 
tracts of land or

[[Page 14391]]

farms. The reconstitution process ensures that the farm and tract 
records in the County FSA Office are correct and up to date. A 
reconstitution is a required procedure when a producer wishes to 
increase or decrease acreage attributed to the farm from leases, sale 
of land, or purchase of land. Form FSA-155, Request for Reconstitution, 
is used as the request for a farm reconstitution initiated by the 
producer.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine farm and tract numbers, farmland, cropland, agricultural use 
land, distribution of tobacco quota and allotments, peanut quota, and 
production flexibility contract acres resulting from combination or 
division of the farming operation. The information is used by the 
County Office employees to document farm owners and operators, 
farmland, cropland, crop acreages, and whether land is being purchased 
or sold. Failure to collect the information required by FSA-155 would 
result in inaccurate farm records.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 7,154.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,519.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Payer's Request for Identifying Number.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0121.
    Summary of Collection: Under section 6109 of the Internal Revenue 
Code, recipients of dividends, interest, or other payments are required 
to furnish identifying numbers to payers who must report such payments 
to the Internal Revenue Service. producers who receive Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) payments must provide a social security, employer, or IRS 
identifying number before any payment is made. FSA will collect 
information using form CCC-343, payer's Request for Identifying Number.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will prepare a CCC-343 for 
each producer who cannot furnish a producer ID number. The information 
on the form is used to obtain a producer identifying number so program 
payments can be made. If the information is not collected a penalty can 
be imposed and FSA will not make program payments to producers without 
an identifying number.
    Description of Respondent: Individuals or households; business or 
other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; state, local or tribal 
government.
    Number of Respondents: 1000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; other (when necessary).
    Total Burden Hours: 83.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Importer Assessments (7 CFR part 1464, subpart B).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0148.
    Summary of Collection: The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
1993 (the 1993 Act) imposes assessments on importers of unmanufactured 
tobacco, which enters into the commerce of the United States. The 1993 
Act amended sections 106, 106A, and 106B of the Agricultural Act of 
1949 (the 1994 Act) to require that each importer of such tobacco shall 
remit to Commodity Credit corporation (CCC) a no-net cost assessment 
fee on every pound of un-manufactured flue-cured or burley tobacco 
imported. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using 
form CCC-100, Importer Entry and Assessment Worksheet.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information on 
the importers' name, import date, port of entry, and quantity imported 
to calculate the marketing assessment amount and the import assessment 
fee. The information collected is used by FSA to ensure that the 
marketing assessment fees and the importers no-net cost assessment fees 
are timely and accurately remitted by importers of unmanufactured 
tobacco that enters into the commerce of the United States.
    Description of Respondent: Business or other for-profits; Federal 
government.
    Number of Respondents: 19.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting; other (import 
date).
    Total Burden Hours: 257.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Tobacco Marketing Quota: Referenda Ballot, Receiving Station 
and Other Purchases.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0182.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as 
amended, (1938 Act) requires the proclamation of national marketing 
quotas for tobacco and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct 
referenda to determine whether producers favor or oppose marketing 
quotas. Section 312 of the 1938 Act requires the Secretary of 
Agriculture to proclaim national marketing quotas for tobacco and to 
conduct a referendum of the farmers who are engaged in the production 
of the crop of tobacco harvested immediately prior to the referendum to 
determine whether such farmers are in favor of, or opposed to, national 
marketing quotas for the next succeeding marketing years. The Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using several FSA forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine whether marketing quotas will be in effect for certain kinds 
of tobacco and voters eligibility. Without conducting a referendum, the 
Secretary would be unable to administer statutory requirements 
regarding tobacco-marketing quotas. If no referendum were held and 
approved by eligible voters, tobacco producers would not have the 
benefits of a marketing quota and thereby a price support program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
individuals or households; Federal government.
    Number of Respondents: 327,537.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: weekly; other (daily/every 3 
yr.).
    Total Burden Hours: 29,556.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Assignments of Payments and Joint Payment Authorization.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0183.
    Summary of Collection: When the recipient of a Commodity Credit 
Corporation (CCC) or a Farm Service Agency (FSA) payment chooses to 
assign a payment to another party or have the payment made jointly with 
another party, the other party must be identified. This is a free 
service that is available upon request by the program payee. The 
regulations for assignment of payments are at 7 CFR part 1404. FSA will 
collect information using various forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA employee to record payment or 
contract being assigned, the amount of the assignment, the date, and 
the name and address of the assignee and the assignor will use the 
information collected on the forms. This is to enable FSA employee to 
pay the proper party when payments become due. FSA will also use the 
information to terminate joint payments at the request of both the 
producer and joint payee. If the information is not collected, there 
would be no payment to third party at the request of the respondents.
    Description of Respondent: Farms; individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 69,325.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 11,778.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Lamb Meat Adjustment Assistance Program (LMAAP).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0205.
    Summary of Collection: The Lamb Meat Adjustment Assistance Program

[[Page 14392]]

(LMAAP) is administered and implemented under the general direction and 
supervision of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) through its State and 
County Committees. Authorizing legislation for LMAAP provides for the 
re-establishment of farmers' purchasing power by making payments in 
connection with the normal production of any agricultural commodity for 
domestic consumption. The objective of the LMAAP program is to make 
direct payments to producers of sheep and lamb operations to help them 
weather the current economic crisis, as well as, help improve their 
production efficiencies and the marketability of lamb meat during the 
period from July 21, 1999, through July 31, 2003.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information using 
form FSA 383 for program years 2-4 for the sheep and lamb operations. 
The information obtained from the form is needed to verify commodity 
and producer eligibility and calculate payment amounts. Without the 
information from the producers, FSA would be unable to administer the 
program to provide direct payments to the sheep and lamb operations.
    Description of Respondents: Farm; individuals or households; 
business or other-for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 63,100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 351,257.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Bioenergy Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0207.
    Summary of Collection: To encourage bioenergy producers to expand 
agricultural markets by promoting increased bioenergy production, the 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), in accordance with the 2002 Act, 
will make incentive cash payments for FY 2003 through FY 2006 to 
bioenergy producers who increase their production of bioenergy (fuel 
grade ethanol and biodiesel) from eligible commodities over previous 
fiscal year bioenergy production. CCC will use its authority under 
section 5 of the CCC Charter Act, 15 U.S.C. 714c, to make biodiesel 
production eligible for the Program that would not be eligible solely 
under the bioenergy provisions of the 2002 Act to support the biodiesel 
industry. Bioenergy producers will enter into an agreement with CCC 
establishing their eligibility to receive program payments. The 
information will be collected by either mail or fax.
    Need and Use of the Information: CCC will collect information from 
bioenergy producers that request payments under the Bioenergy Program 
to ensure the benefits are paid only to eligible bioenergy producers 
for eligible commodities. Failure to collect this information as 
outlined would make it difficult to ensure that payments to producers 
are made in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: annually; 
quarterly; other (850 multi-year).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,100.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Designation of Burley Tobacco Sales & Annual Waiver To 
Release Information Restricted by the Privacy Act.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0217.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as 
amended (1938 Act) states a primary purpose of the Federal tobacco 
program will be ``* * *. to control effectively the orderly marketing * 
* *'' of tobacco and ``* * *. to promote, foster, and maintain an 
orderly flow of such supply * * *.'' Historically, 99 percent of all 
burley tobacco was marketed at auction warehouses. The large majority 
of burley tobacco is now being sold non-auction directly to 
manufacturers. Without the collection of designation information for 
burley tobacco, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) would not know where the 
tobacco would be sold or how many pounds would be sold outside the 
traditional auction market system. FSA will collect information using 
FSA-808, Designation of Burley Tobacco Sales and Request for Marketing 
Cards and MQ-60, Annual Waiver to Release Information Restricted by the 
Privacy Act.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect the pounds, 
locations, and marketing cards information from the forms. FSA will 
also collect information to assign tobacco graders as needed to auction 
warehouses in order to grade tobacco that is delivered for sale.
    Description of Respondent: Individuals or households; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 150,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 187,504.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Telecommunications System Construction Polices and 
Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0059.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE 
Act), 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., was amended in 2002 by title IV, Rural 
Broadband Access, by Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, which 
authorizes Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to provide loans and loan 
guarantees to fund the cost of construction, improvement, or 
acquisition for facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband 
service in eligible rural communities in the States and territories of 
the United States. Title VI of the RE Act requires that loans are 
granted only to borrowers who demonstrated that they will be able to 
repay in full within the time agreed. RUS has established certain 
standards and specification for materials, equipment and construction 
to assure that standards are maintained; loans are not adversely 
affected, and loans are used for intended purposes.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS has developed specific forms 
for borrowers to use when entering into contracts for goods of 
services. The information collected is use to implement certain 
provisions of loan documents about the borrower's purchase of materials 
and equipment and the construction of its broadband system and is 
provided on and as needed basis or when the individual borrower 
undertakes certain projects. The standardization of the forms has 
resulted in substantial savings to borrowers by reducing preparation of 
the documentation and the costly review by the government.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 238.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,123.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1728, Electric Standards and Specifications for 
Materials and Construction.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-New.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 
U.S.C. 901 et seq., as amended, (RE Act) in sec. 4 (7 U.S.C. 904) 
authorizes and empowers the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make loans in several States and Territories of the 
United States for rural electrification and the furnishing and 
improving of electric energy to persons in rural areas. RUS' 
Administrator is authorized to provide financial assistance to 
borrowers for purposes provided in the RE Act by guaranteeing loans 
made by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, 
the Federal Financing Bank, and other lending agencies. These loans are 
for a term of up to 35 years and are secured by a first mortgage on the 
borrower's electric

[[Page 14393]]

system. Manufacturers wishing to sell their products to RUS electric 
borrowers request RUS consideration for acceptance of their products 
and submit letters of request with certifications as to the origin of 
manufacture of the products and include certified data demonstrating 
their products' compliance with RUS specifications.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
evaluate the data to determine that the quality of the products is 
acceptable and that their use will not jeopardize loan security. The 
information is closely reviewed to be certain that test data; product 
dimensions and product material compositions fully comply with RUS 
technical standards and specifications that have been established for 
the particular product. Without this information, RUS has no means of 
determining the acceptability of products for use in the rural 
environment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 38.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,760.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1944-B, Housing Applications Packaging Grants.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0157.
    Summary of Collection: Section 509 of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended, authorizes the Rural Housing Service (RHS) to make grants to 
private and public nonprofit organizations and State and local 
governments to package housing applications for Section 502, 504, 514/
515 and 533 to colonias and designated counties. Eligible organizations 
aid very low and low-income individuals and families in obtaining 
benefits from RHS housing programs. Various forms are used to confirm 
income verification for loan applicants, as a checklist to obtain a 
loan, and to check credit information about the applicants.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS field personnel will use this 
information to verify program eligibility requirements, to secure grant 
assistance, and for approval of housing application-packaging grants. 
The information will ensure that the program is administered in a 
manner consistent with legislative and administrative requirements. 
Without this information, RHS would be unable to determine if a grantee 
qualifies for grant assistance.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of respondents: 300.
    Frequency of responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,350.

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service

    Title: Recognizing the Animal Disease Status of Regions in the 
European Union.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-New.
    Summary of Collection: title 21, U.S.C. authorizes sections 111, 
114, 114a, 114-1, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134c, 134f, and 134g. 
These authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and 
eliminate domestic diseases such as brucellosis, as well as to take 
actions to prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as hog cholera 
and other foreign diseases. Disease prevention is the most effective 
method for maintaining a healthy animal population and enhancing the 
Animal Plant and health Inspection service (APHIS) ability to compete 
in exporting animal and animal products. APHIS published a rule that 
would recognize Greece as a region free of foot-and-mouth disease; 
recognize Greece and nine regions in northern Italy as free of swine 
vesicular disease; and recognize Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, 
Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain as a 
region free of hog cholera. Recognizing the new animal health status of 
these regions will allow them to import swine, pork and pork products, 
and swine semen into the United States under less stringent conditions, 
and will be regarded by the international community as a lowering of 
trade barriers. APHIS will collect information using certificates.
    Need and use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
concerning the origin and history of the items destined for importation 
into the United States. APHIS will also collect information to ensure 
that swine, pork and pork products, and swine semen pose a negligible 
risk of introducing exotic swine diseases into the United States. if 
the information is not collected it would cripple APHIS' ability to 
ensure that swine, pork and pork products, and swine semen pose a 
minimal risk of introducing hog cholera and other exotic animal disease 
into the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit; State, 
local and tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 30.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 300.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Specified Commodities Imported into the United States Exempt 
from Import Requirements, 7 CFR Part 944, 980, and 999.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0167.
    Summary of Collection: Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 
(AMAA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674) provides that when certain 
domestically produced commodities are regulated under a Federal 
marketing order; imports of the commodity must meet the same or 
comparable requirements. Import regulations apply only during those 
periods when domestic marketing order regulations are in effect. No 
person may import products for processing or other exempt purposes 
unless an executed Importers Exempt Commodity Form (FV-6) accompanies 
the shipment. The Civil Penalty Stipulation Agreement (FV-7) is a 
``volunteer'' form that provides the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) with an additional tool to obtain resolution of certain cases 
without the cost of going to a hearing.
    Need and Use of the Information: AMS utilizes the information to 
ensure that imported goods destined for exempt outlets are given no 
less favorable treatment than that afforded to domestic goods destined 
for such exempt outlets. The importers wishing to import commodities 
will use form FV-6, ``Importer's Exempt Commodity'', which requires a 
minimum amount of information.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 324.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2550.

Sondra A. Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-6974 Filed 3-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M