[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35838-35841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15271]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 116 / Tuesday, June 17, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 35838]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 12, 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, Pub. L. 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 
Officer 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) 720-6746.
    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: McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child 
Nutrition Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 requires reporting on food aid programs, including the new 
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition 
program (Food for Education). This program will provide agricultural 
commodities and financial and technical assistance, to carry out 
educational programs for food and nutrition in foreign countries. 
Although the number of report requirements vary in accordance with 
circumstances, reports will be received from the Cooperating Sponsor 
every six months during the active life of the agreements. Reporting 
will be required until all commodities have been distributed, cash 
outlays expended, and/or the funds generated from the sales of the 
donated commodities have been disbursed. Information is necessary to 
satisfy statutory requirements and to assure that public resources are 
properly used.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Foreign Agricultural Service 
(FAS) will collect from cooperating sponsors a Plan of Operation (i.e., 
program proposal) and budget, which will be used to determine 
eligibility for participation. FAS will also collect information that 
describes the organizational capacity to develop, implement, monitor, 
and report on school feeding and child nutrition programs. Without the 
information, it would difficult for FAS to determine the accountability 
and compliance of the Cooperating Sponsors.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 156.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; Semi-
annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 11,607.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Horse Protection Regulations (9 CFR part 11).
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0056.
    Summary of Collection: 9 CFR part 11, Regulations, implement the 
Horse Protection Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-540), as amended July 13, 1976 
(Pub. L. 94-360), and are authorized under Section 9 of the Act. The 
Horse Protection Legislation was enacted to prevent showing, 
exhibiting, selling, or auctioning of ``sore'' horses, and certain 
transportation of sore horses in connection therewith at horse shows, 
horse exhibitions, horse sales, and horse auctions. A sore horse is a 
horse that has received pain-provoking practices that cause the horse 
to have an accentuated, high stepping gait. Sored horses cannot be 
entered in an event by any person, including trainers, riders, or 
owners. Management of shows, sales, exhibitions, or auctions must 
identify sored horses to prevent their participation under the act.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHSI will collect information at 
specified intervals from Horse Industry Organizations (HIO) and show 
managements. HIOs must maintain an acceptable Designated Qualified 
Person program and recordkeeping system as outlined in the regulations. 
Information provided by the HIOs through designated qualified persons 
allows APHIS to monitor whether enforcement of the Horse Protection 
Act, its regulations, and certifying programs are effective.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 1.514.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,357.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Negative Quality Control Review Schedule; Status of Sample 
Selection and Completion.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0034.
    Summary of Collection: The legislative basis for the operation of 
the quality control system is provided by section 16 of the Food Stamp 
Act of 1977. State agencies are required to perform Quality Control 
(QC) reviews for the Food Stamp Program (FSP). As part of the 
Performance Reporting System, each State agency is required to provide 
a systemic means of determining the accuracy of household eligibility 
and measuring the extent to which households receive the food stamp 
allotment to which they are entitled. Section 275.21(a) requires State 
agencies to submit reports to enable the

[[Page 35839]]

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to monitor their compliance with 
Program requirements relative to the Quality Control Review System. FNS 
will collect information using forms FNS-245 Negative Case Action 
Review Schedule and FNS-248 Status of Sample Selection and Completion.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
record data in negative case reviews. FNS will also measure program 
operations and determination of a State's eligibility for enhanced 
administrative funding and to monitor the progress of sample selection 
and completion. If the information were not collected, it would delay 
the awarding of monetary incentives in which the negative error rate 
played a role.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Weekly; Monthly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 123,374.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse Database Form.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0474.
    Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is 
interested in maintaining and further developing an information 
clearinghouse (named ``USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse'') for groups 
that assist low-income individuals and communities concerning nutrition 
assistance programs or other assistance. Section 26 of the National 
School Lunch Act, which was added to the Act by Section 123 Pub. L. 
102-448 on November 2, 1994 (Appendix A), mandated that FNS enter into 
a 4 year contract with a non governmental organization to develop and 
maintain a national information clearinghouse of grassroots 
organizations working on hunger, food, nutrition, and other 
agricultural issues, including food recovery. This legislation was 
further amended on October 13, 1998 by section 112 of Pub. L. 105-336 
to extend and increase funding for the clearinghouse (for fiscal years 
1999 through 2003). The USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse uses state-
of-the art computer and telecommunications technologies to connect the 
target audience, sharing information on effective program models, 
pending legislation and rule makings, surplus and emergency food 
distribution networks, and USDA programs and policies.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
provide a resource for groups that assist low-income individuals or 
communities regarding nutrition assistance program or other assistance. 
The information provided by the Clearinghouse database enables these 
groups to do a better job of assisting the target audience.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 1,750.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 146.

Forest Service

    Title: Public land use and Values.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-New.
    Summary of Collection: As part of a continuing research effort to 
develop and evaluate alternative approaches and methods for obtaining 
and incorporating public input into land and resource management 
decision, this information collection will focus mainly on people and 
their use of public lands. The information collection will include 
three aspects of public preferences, which are: (1) Objectives 
(comprised of values and desired outcomes) and preferences related to 
public land and management, (2) land attributes and people's behaviors 
and perceived consequences that can be linked to policy and management 
alternatives (in particular, measurable indicators of changes caused or 
prevented by policy and management actions), (3) identification of how 
people evaluate measured indicators of policy and management outcomes 
and consequences. The Forest Service (FS) will collect information 
using a survey that will be administered primarily by mail, some 
telephone contact and some in-person contact.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will 
also help managers and planners broaden and deepen their understanding 
of the public perceptions of various land management practices and 
impacts of those practices. Without the information reliable data would 
not be available on how the public feels about various management 
policies and means for accomplishing those policies on public lands.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 8,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,000.

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration

    Title: Survey of Customers of the Official Grain Inspection and 
Weighing System.
    OMB Control Number: 0580-0018.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Grain Standards Act, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 71-87) (USGSA), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA), authorizes the Secretary 
of the United States Department of Agriculture to establish official 
inspection, grading, and weighing programs for grains and other 
agricultural commodities. Under the USGSA and AMA, Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA's) Federal Grain Inspection 
Service (FGIS) offers inspecting, weighing, grading, quality assurance, 
and certification services for a user-fee to facilitate the efficient 
marketing of grain, oilseeds, rice, lentils, dry peas, edible beans, 
and related agricultural commodities in the global marketplace. The 
goal of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing system 
is to provide timely, high-quality, accurate, consistent, and 
professional service that facilitates the orderly marketing of grain 
and related commodities.
    Need and Use of the Information: FGIS will collect information 
using a survey to determine where and to what extent services are 
satisfactory, and can be improved. The information will be shared with 
other managers and program leaders who will be responsible for making 
any necessary improvements at the office/agency, program, and project 
level.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,874.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 313.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1744-C, Advance and Disbursement of Funds--
Telecommunications.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0023.
    Summary of Collection: Section 201 of the Rural Electrification Act 
(RE Act) of 1936 authorizes the Administrator of the Rural Utilities 
Service (RUS) to make loans for the purpose of providing telephone 
service to the widest practicable number of rural subscribers. A 
borrower requesting loan advances must submit RUS Form 481, ``Financial 
Requirement Statement'' and a description of the advances. A borrower 
must submit upon request copies of backup documentation relating to the 
transactions. The information is used to determine what projects the 
contracts listed on the form relate to. Within a reasonable amount of 
time, funds are advanced to the borrower for the

[[Page 35840]]

purposes specified in the statement of purposes.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Form 481 is used by RUS to 
record and control transactions in the construction fund. RUS will 
collect information and verify that the funds advanced are related 
directly to loan purposes. If the information were not collected, RUS 
would not have any control over how loan funds are spent or a record of 
the balance to be advanced.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 645.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,893.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1703-H, Deferments of RUS Loan Payments for Rural 
Development Projects.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0097.
    Summary of Collection: Subsection (b) of section 12 of the Rural 
Electrification Act (RE Act) of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 912), a 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telephone borrower may defer 
the payment of principal and interest on any insured or direct loan 
made under the RE Act invest the deferred amounts in rural development 
projects. The Deferment program is used to encourage borrowers to 
invest in and promote rural development and rural job creation projects 
that are based on sound economic and financial analyses.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine eligibility; purposes for which the deferment amount will be 
utilized; the term of the deferment the borrower will receive; the cost 
of the total project and degree of participation in the financing from 
other sources; verification that the purposes will not violate 
limitations established in 7 CFR 1703-H. If the information were not 
collected, RUS would be unable to determine eligibility for a project.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit; Business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 35.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR part 1775, Technical Assistance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0112.
    Summary of Collection: Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (CONACT), 7 U.S.C. 1926, authorizes Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans and grants to public agencies, 
American Indian tribes, and nonprofit corporations. The loans and 
grants fund the development of drinking water, wastewater, and solid 
waste disposal facilities in rural areas with populations of up to 
10,000 residents. Nonprofit organizations receive Technical Assistance 
and Training (TAT) and Solid Waste Management (SMM) grants to help 
small rural communities or areas identify and solve problems relating 
to community drinking water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal 
systems. The technical assistance is intended to improve the management 
and operation of the systems and reduce or eliminate pollution of water 
resources.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine applicant eligibility, project feasibility, and the 
applicant's ability to meet the grant and regulatory requirements. 
Failure to collect proper information could result in improper 
determinations of eligibility and improper use of funds.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 95.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,986.

Forest Service

    Title: Recreation Fee Permit Envelope.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0106.
    Summary of Collection: The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 
1965, section 4(b), and Forest Service regulations at Title 36, Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR), Sec.  291.2 authorize the collection of fees 
at some of the National Forest and Grassland recreation sites. Every 
year millions of people visit National Forest System recreations sites. 
At some of these sites, the public is required to pay a fee to use the 
site. Fees are charged to help cover the costs of operating and 
maintaining fee sites, areas, and facilities such as campgrounds. The 
Forest Service (FS) used the Recreation Fee Permit Envelope for 
collection of these fees. The fee envelope is also used as a tool to 
collect information from visitors who will assist the FS in improving 
its facilities and services for future visitors.
    Need and use of the Information: FS will collect information to be 
used for two purposes; First, the information pertaining to the fee 
(site number, length of stay, amount paid, etc.) will be used to verify 
the visitor has complied with the fee requirements. Second, visitors 
will be given the opportunity to provide comments about their visit, 
the condition of the facilities, and how the FS can improve services to 
the public. If a visitor elects not to complete the information related 
to the fee, there will be no way to verify they have paid the required 
fee.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 400,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (per visit).
    Total Burden Hours: 20,000.

National Appeals Division

    Title: National Appeals Division Customer Service Survey
    OMB Control Number: 0503-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The National Appeals Division (NAD) proposes 
to conduct a customer service survey by mail pursuant to Executive 
Order No. 12862. The Secretary of Agriculture established NAD on 
October 20, 1994, by Secretary's Memorandum 1010-1, pursuant to the 
Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994. The Act consolidated the appellate 
functions and staff of several USDA Agencies and provided for 
independent hearings and reviews of adverse decisions of Agencies 
within USDA. Hearing Officers conduct evidentiary hearings on adverse 
decisions or, when the appellant requests they review the Agency's 
record of the adverse decision without a hearing. Although NAD 
maintains a database to track appeal requests, the database contains 
only information necessary to process the appeal request, such as the 
name, address, filing results etc. NAD will collect information using a 
survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: NAD will collect information to 
gauge the appellant's preference for face-to-face hearings, telephone 
hearings or record reviews, perception of the fairness of the appeal 
process, how the hearing was conducted, how impartial was the 
proceeding, appellant treatment, timeliness, and how understandable the 
final determination. NAD managers to set Customer Service Standards, 
and make adjustments and improvements to NAD processes, including type 
of appeal and clarity of NAD notices and determinations, will use the 
results of the annual survey.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; Not-
for-profit institutions; Business or other for-profit; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1176.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 294.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

    Title: Long Term Contracting.

[[Page 35841]]

    OMB Control Number: 0578-0013.
    Summary of Collection: The Long term Contracting regulations at 7 
CFR part 630, and the Conservation program regulations at 7 CFR parts 
(12, 610, 622, 624, 631, 632, 633, 634, 636, 701, 702, 752, 1410, 1465, 
1466, 1467 and 1491) set forth the basic policies, program provisions, 
and eligibility requirements for owners and operators to enter into and 
carry out long-term conservation program contracts with technical 
assistance under the various programs. These programs authorize federal 
technical and financial cost sharing assistance for conservation 
treatment with eligible land users. The financial assistance is based 
on a conservation plan that is made a part of an agreement or contract 
for a period of no less than one year. 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.
    Need and Use of the Information: Natural Resource and Conservation 
Service (NRCS) will collect information on cost sharing and technical 
assistance, making land use changes and install measure to conserve, 
develop and utilize soil, water, and related natural resources on 
participants land. NRCS uses the information to ensure the proper 
utilization of program funds, including application for participation, 
easement acquisition, contract implementation, conservation planning, 
and application for payment.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farms; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 383,312.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting; Annually, Other.
    Total Burden Hours: 755,152.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-15271 Filed 6-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M