[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25316-25317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11692]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

Commodity Credit Corporation


Information Collection; Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance 
Program

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corporation are seeking 
comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the 
extension of a currently approved information collection in support of 
the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The information 
collected is needed to determine eligibility to obtain NAP assistance.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 11, 2003 to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to John 
Newcomer, Program Specialist, Production, Emergencies and Compliance 
Division, Noninsured Assistance Program Branch, Farm Service Agency, 
USDA, Mail Stop 0517, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0522 and to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503. Comments also may be submitted by e-mail to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Newcomer, Program Specialist, 
Noninsured Assistance Program Branch, (202) 720-5172.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
    OMB Number: 0560-0175.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension with revision.
    Abstract: The Noninsured Crop Assistance Program is authorized 
under 7 U.S.C. 7333 and implemented under regulations issued at 7 CFR 
part 1437. The NAP is administered under the general supervision of the 
Executive Vice-President of CCC (who also serves as Administrator, 
FSA), and is carried out by FSA State and County committees. The 
information collected allows CCC to provide assistance under NAP for 
losses of commercial crops or other agricultural commodities (except 
livestock) for which catastrophic risk protection under 7 U.S.C. 1508 
is not available, and that is produced for food or fiber. Additionally, 
NAP provides assistance for losses of floriculture, ornamental nursery, 
Christmas tree crops, turfgrass sod, seed crops, aquaculture (including 
ornamental fish), sea oats and sea grass, and industrial crops. The 
information collected is necessary to determine whether a producer and 
crop or commodity meet applicable conditions for assistance and to 
determine compliance with existing rules. Producers must annually: (1) 
Request NAP coverage by completing an application for coverage and 
paying a service fee by the CCC-established application closing date; 
(2) file a current crop-year report of acreage for the covered crop or 
commodity; and (3) certify production of each covered crop or 
commodity. When damage to a covered crop or commodity occurs, producers 
must file a notice of loss with the local FSA administrative county 
office within 15 calendar days of occurrence or 15 calendar days of the 
date damage to the crop or commodity becomes apparent. Producers must 
also file an application for payment and certification of income with 
the local FSA administrative county office.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is estimated to average 0.6 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Producers of commercial crops or other 
agricultural commodities (except livestock).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 497,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,521,258.
    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 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

[[Page 25317]]

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

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 5, 2003.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice-President, 
Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 03-11692 Filed 5-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P