[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 38285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16311]



[[Page 38285]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection; Facsimile Signature Authorization and 
Verification

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, the 
Farm Service Agency is seeking comments from all interested individuals 
and entities on an extension of a currently approved collection. 
Specifically, comments are sought about FSA-237, which serves as a 
verification of producer's original signature and their desire to 
conduct business with FSA electronically.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 26, 
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 
Virgil Ireland, Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250 and Desk Officer 
for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Comments may be 
submitted via facsimile to (202) 690-3632. Copies of the information 
collection may be obtained from Mr. Ireland at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virgil Ireland, Agricultural Program 
Specialist, Emergency Preparedness and Program Branch, Production, 
Emergencies, and Compliance Division, (202) 720-5103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Facsimile Signature Authorization and Verification (7 CFR 
part 718).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0203.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Individuals wishing to conduct business and provide 
certain signed documents to the USDA Service Center agencies via 
facsimile machines must complete a FSA-237, Facsimile Signature 
Authorization and Verification form. The FSA-237 serves as evidence 
that the individual is willing to conduct business and provide signed 
documents through facsimile machines. The FSA-211 also provides the 
agencies a source to authenticate signatures and transactions in the 
event of errors or fraud that require legal remedies. The information 
collected on the FSA-237 is limited to the individual's name, signature 
and identification number. Individuals must agree to the terms and 
conditions of conducting business via facsimile machines. Without the 
collection of this information, USDA service center agencies cannot 
ensure the authenticity of signatures received via facsimile unless 
they are supplemented with the original signature.
    Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average .02 hours per 
response.
    Respondents: Individuals who wish to conduct business with USDA 
service center agencies via facsimile.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 987,341 hours.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 19,747.
    Comment is invited: (1) Whether the collection of information is 
necessary for 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 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 the information on respondents, including the use 
of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public records. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 20, 2003.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 03-16311 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P