[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 25317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11691]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) intends to request 
an extension for a currently approved information collection in support 
of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 11, 
2003 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia A. Blevins, Agricultural 
Foreign Investment Specialist, Natural Resources Analysis Group, 
Economic and Policy Analysis Staff, USDA, FSA, STOP 0531, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0531, (202) 720-0604.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0097.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: AFIDA requires foreign persons who hold, acquire, or 
dispose of any interest in U.S. agricultural land to report the 
transactions to the FSA on an 2 AFIDA report. The information so 
collected is made available to States. Also, although not required by 
law, the information collected from the AFIDA reports is used to 
prepare annual report to Congress and the President concerning the 
effect of foreign investment upon family farms and rural communities so 
that Congress may review the annual report and decide if further 
regulatory action is required.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Foreign investors, corporate employees, attorneys or 
farm managers.
    Estimate Number of Respondents: 4,375.
    Estimate Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 4,375.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,108 hours.
    Proposed topics for comment include: (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 collected; 
or (d) way to minimize the burden of the collection of the 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 Patricia A. Blevins, Agricultural Foreign 
Investment Specialist, Natural Resources Analysis Group, Economic and 
Policy Analysis Group, USDA, FSA, STOP 0531, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0531, (202) 720-0604.
    All comments 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 May 5, 2003.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 03-11691 Filed 5-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P