[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40895-40900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17347]


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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. 131 / Wednesday, July 9, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 40895]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 3, 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 
Office for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 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 be 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.

Agricultural Research Service

    Title: Suggestions for changes to NAL Agricultural Thesaurus Form.
    OMB Control Number: 0518--New.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Thesaurus is a 
publication of the National Agricultural Library (NAL). The proposed 
``Proposal Form'' is an instrument by which NAL thesaurus staff may 
receive feedback from online users of the thesaurus. Users may suggest 
additions or other changes to the thesaurus. The thesaurus staff will 
review each suggestion via a Proposal Review Board and provide feedback 
to the user.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information to be submitted 
includes, user contact information (name, affiliation, email, phone), 
the proposed changes to the thesaurus, the field of study or subject 
area of the term being proposed, justification for the change, and any 
reference material which the user would like to provide as background 
information. The information collected will help NAL thesaurus staff to 
make improvements to the content and organization of the thesaurus. 
Failure of the NAL thesaurus staff to collect this information would 
significantly inhibit public relations with their users.
    Description of Respondents: Federal Government; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 250.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 42.

Agricultural Research Service

    Title: Electronic Mailing List Subscription Form-- Nutrition and 
Food Safety.
    OMB Control Number: 0518-New.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Library's Food 
Information Team (FIT) currently maintains several on-line discussion 
groups. The proposed ``Electronic Mailing List Subscription Form'' 
would give individuals working in the area of nutrition and food safety 
an opportunity to participate in these groups. Data collected using 
this form will help FIT determine a person's eligibility to participate 
in these discussion groups. The authority for the National Agricultural 
Library (NAL) to collect this information is contained in the CFR, 
Title 7, Volume 1, Part 2, and Subpart K, Sec. 2.65 (92).
    Need and Use of the Information: NAL will collect the name, email 
address, job title, job location, mailing address and telephone number 
in order to approve subscription for nutrition and food safety on-line 
discussion groups. Failure to collect this informatin would inhibit 
NAL's ability to provide subscription services to these discussion 
groups.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local and Tribal Government; 
Individuals or households; Federal Government.
    Number of Responses: 1,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting : Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 17.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Payment Eligibility/Limitation Determinations Under the 
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0096.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers 
certain farm programs in which the payments are subject and not subject 
to the established payment limitations. The Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 amended the provisions of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 to provide for a $40,000 limitation per crop year on the direct 
payments; $65,000 per crop year on counter-cyclical payments, $75,000 
per crop year on the amount of marketing loan gains and loan deficiency 
payments a person may receive; and apply the payment eligibility 
provisions of the 1985 Act to payments made under the direct and 
counter-cyclical payment program contract, marketing loan gains and 
loan deficiency payments. All program participants must provide certain 
information concerning their farming operations for FSA to determine 
both the eligibility for payment and the number of ``persons'' for the 
application of the payment limitation required for the respective 
program. Information is captured on different forms depending upon the 
nature and the type of program participant's farming operation.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information to 
determine the eligibility for payment and the number of ``persons'' for 
the application

[[Page 40896]]

of the payment limitation required for the respective program. Without 
the date, FSA cannot determine whether the individual or the entity 
requesting program benefits is eligible and or in compliance with the 
statutory and regulatory requirements of payment eligibility and 
payment limitation. FSA and the National Appeals Division also use the 
information on review in the event an appeal is filed by the producer 
regarding any of the determinations.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 123,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Other (as needed).
    Total Burden Hours: 237,871.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: End-Use Certificate Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0151.
    Summary of Collection: Public Law 103-181, Section 321(f) of the 
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act mandates that 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall implement, in coordination with the 
Commissioner of Customs and Border Protections, a program requiring 
that end-use certificates be included in the documentation covering the 
entry into the United States of any wheat originating from Canada. The 
end-use certificate program was designed to ensure that Canadian wheat 
does not benefit from USDA or CCC-assisted export programs.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected on the 
end-use certificate is used in conjunction with USDA's domestic origin 
compliance review process during quarterly audits of contractors 
involved in foreign food assistance programs. The form FSA-750 ``End-
Use Certificate for Wheat'' is used by approximately 200 importers of 
Canadian wheat to report entry into the United States. Form FSA-751, 
``Wheat Consumption and Resale Report'' is used by millers and 
exporters to report final disposition of Canadian wheat in the U.S.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 421.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,520.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation 
(7 CFR Part 12).
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0185.
    Summary of Collection: The Food Security Act of 1985 as amended by 
the Federal Agriculture Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 and the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act), 
and the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 (the 2003 Act) provides 
that any person who produces an agricultural commodity on a field that 
is predominately highly erodible, converts wetland, or plants an 
agricultural commodity on converted wetland after December 23, 1985, 
shall be ineligible for certain program benefits. These provisions are 
an attempt to preserve the nation's wetland and to reduce the rate at 
which the conversion of highly erodible land occurs which contributes 
to the national erosion problem. In order to ensure that persons who 
request benefits subject to the conservation restrictions get technical 
assistance needed and are informed regarding the compliance 
requirements on their land, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) collects 
information using several forms from producers with regard to their 
financial activities on their land that could affect their eligibility 
for requested USDA benefits.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information must be collected from 
producers to certify that they intend to comply with the conservation 
requirements on their land to maintain their eligibility. Additional, 
information may be collected if producers request that certain 
activities be exempt from provisions of the statute in order to 
evaluate whether the exempted conditions will be met. The collection of 
information allows the FSA county employees to perform the necessary 
compliance checks and fulfill USDA's objectives towards preserving 
wetlands and reducing erosion.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 200,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 251,153.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Animal & Poultry, Animal/Poultry Products, 
Certain Animal Embryos, Semen, and Zoological Animals.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0040.
    Summary of Collection: Title 21 U.S.C. authorizes sections 111, 
114, 114a, 114-1, 115, 120, 121, 125, 126, 134a, 134f, and 134g of 21 
U.S.C. These authorities permit the Secretary to prevent, control and 
eliminate domestic diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis, as 
well as to take actions to prevent and to manage exotic diseases such 
as foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest. Disease prevention is the 
most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and 
enhancing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
ability to compete in exporting animals and animal products. To fulfill 
this mission APHIS must collect pertinent information from those 
individuals who import animals and poultry, animal products, zoological 
animals, or animal germplasm into the United States. APHIS will collect 
information using several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from foreign animal health authorities seeking to engage in the 
regionalization process. The information includes such data as the last 
reported outbreak of a given animal disease in the region, the trading 
practices engaged in by the region, and the intensity of the disease 
surveillance activities occurring in the region. This vital information 
helps APHIS to ensure that these imports pose a negligible risk of 
introducing exotic animal diseases into the United States. If the 
information was not collected, it would cripple or destroy APHIS 
ability to protect the United States from exotic animal disease 
incursions.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 169,921.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 64,870.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Federal Plant Pest and Noxious Weeds Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0054.
    Summary of Collection: The Plant Protection and Quarantine Program 
of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United 
States Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing plant 
pests and noxious weeds from entering the United States, preventing the 
spread of pests and weeds not widely distributed in the United States, 
and eradicating those imported pests and weeds when eradication is 
feasible. APHIS will collect information using several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
evaluate the risk associated with the proposed movement of plant pest 
noxious weeds, and soil. APHIS will also collect information to monitor 
operations at facility to ensure permit conditions are being met. The 
information is used to determine whether a permit can be issued, and 
also to develop risk-mitigating conditions for the proposed movement. 
If the information were not collected,

[[Page 40897]]

APHIS ability to protect the United States from a plant pest or noxious 
weed incursion would be significantly compromised.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 39,962.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 38,133.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Animal Welfare Act, Part 3.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0093.
    Summary of Collection: The Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 
(Public Law 890544) enacted August 24, 1966, required the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (USDA), to regulate the humane care and 
handling of dog, and nonhuman primates. The legislation was the result 
of extensive demand by organized animal welfare groups and private 
citizens requesting a Federal law covering the transportation, care, 
and handling of laboratory animals. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care (AC) has the responsibility to 
enforce the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131-2156) and the provisions 
of 9 CFR, Subchapter A, which implements the Animal Welfare Act.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
insure that animal used in research facilities or exhibition purposes 
are provided humane care and treatment. The information is used to 
ensure those dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, carriers, etc., 
are in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and regulations and 
standards promulgated under this authority of the Act.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 5,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 34,918.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Conifer Solid Wood Packing Material to China, Export 
Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0147.
    Summary of Collection: The Plant Protection and Quarantine Program 
of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United 
States Department of Agriculture is responsible for preventing plant 
diseases or insect pests from entering the United States, preventing 
the spread of pests not widely distributed in the United States, and 
eradicating those imported pests and weeds when eradication is 
feasible. The Federal Plant Pest Act authorizes the Department to carry 
out this mission. APHIS provides export certification services to 
assure other countries that the plants and plant products (as well as 
associated packing materials) they are receiving from the United States 
are free of prohibited (or regulated) plant diseases and insect pest. 
Effective January 1, 2000, the government of China requires goods from 
the United States to be accompanied by either a statement from the 
exporter that the shipment does not contain any softwood (conifer) 
packing materials, or by an APHIS-issued certificate certifying that 
the conifer packing materials in the shipment have been heat treated by 
being subjected to a minimum core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for 
30 minutes. APHIS will collect information using form PPQ 553, 
``Certificate of Heat Treatment.''
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect the names and 
address of the exporter and the consignee and a description of the 
consignment. APHIS will also collect information certifying that heat 
treatment has been performed, as well as the actual certification. The 
information is needed to assure China that conifer packing materials 
from the United States do not harbor insect pests such as the pine wood 
nematode. If the information is not collected, this would cause China 
to refuse any shipments from the United States that contained conifer 
packing materials.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 6,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,808.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Field Testing of Plants Engineered to Produce Pharmaceutical 
and Industrial Compounds.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0216.
    Summary of Collection: Under the authority of the Plant Protection 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture has delegated to 
the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) the authority to regulate the introduction (importation, 
interstate movement or release into the environment) of organisms and 
products altered or produced through genetic engineering, where any 
such organism may be a plant pest or that there is reason to believe 
are plant pests (7 CFR Parts 330 and 340, Plant Pest; Introduction of 
Genetically Engineered Organisms or Products). Since the inception of 
the biotechnology regulatory program in USDA, APHIS in 1987 with the 
publication of 7 CFR Parts 330 and 340 thousands of field tests have 
been performed safely with plant engineered to contain agronomic 
improvement traits such as resistance to disease, pests or tolerance to 
specific herbicides. APHIS will collect information through permitting 
procedures defined in the permit application APHIS Form 2000, 
``Application for Permit or Courtesy Permit Under 7 CFR 340.''
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
monitor, audit and verify compliance with more stringent permitting 
conditions for pharmaceutical manufacturing plants traits. APHIS will 
also collect information to ensure that no volunteers or regulated 
material is allowed to remain to be disseminated into the environment. 
Without the required information, APHIS could not carry out its mission 
to prevent the introduction or dissemination of plant pests in the 
United States.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 12.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 804.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Summer Food Service Program Claim for Reimbursement.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0041.
    Summary of Collection: The Summer Food Service Program Claim for 
Reimbursement Form is used to collect meal and cost data from sponsors 
to determine the reimbursement entitlement for meals served. The form 
is sent to the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) Regional Offices 
where it is entered into a computerized payment system. The payment 
system computes earnings to date and the number of meals to date and 
generates payments for the amount of earnings in excess of prior 
advance and claim payments. To fulfill the earned reimbursement 
requirements set forth in the Summer Food Service Program Regulation 
issued by the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 225.9), the meal and cost 
data must be collected on the FNS-143 claim form.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
manage, plan, evaluate, and account for

[[Page 40898]]

government resources. The reports and records are required to ensure 
the proper and judicious use of public funds. If the information is not 
collected on the claim form, the sponsor could not receive 
reimbursement.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit; institutions; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 212.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Other (Summer).
    Total Burden Hours: 610.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Coupon Account and Destruction Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0053.
    Summary of Collection: Section 7 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 
requires the Secretary to develop appropriate procedures for 
determining and monitoring the amount of food coupon inventories 
maintained by State agencies for the Food Stamp Program. The Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) administers and Food Stamp Program on behalf of 
the Secretary of Agriculture and issues regulations which ensure the 
proper control and accounting for food stamp coupons that are no longer 
usable. Form FNS-471 is used by FNS to obtain consistent documentation 
from State agencies to account for unusable coupons as well as coupons 
destroyed.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS uses the information gathered 
through monthly submissions of the FNS-471 to substantiate benefit de-
obligations reported by State agencies, reconcile coupon inventory 
reports, and determine benefits returned as payment on claims.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,896.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,474.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: WIC Federal and State Agreement.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0332.
    Summary of Collection: The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and 
the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) are carried out by the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture under Section 17 of the Child Nutrition 
Act (CNA) of 1966, as amended. Form FNS-399 is the agreement between 
USDA and the State agency. The agreement empowers USDA to release funds 
to the State agency to operate the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) 
Program or the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
authorize payment of cash grants to State agencies, which operate the 
program locally through nonprofit organizations and must ensure 
coordination of the Program among the appropriate agencies and 
organizations. Each FMNP or WIC State agency desiring to administer the 
program shall annually enter into a written agreement with USDA for 
administration of the program in the jurisdiction of the State agency. 
If the information is not collected, Federal funds cannot be provided 
to the State agency without a signed agreement.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 101.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 25.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Supplemental Form for Collecting Taxpayer Identifying 
Numbers.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0501.
    Summary of Collection: Section 3100(y) of the Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134) requires all Federal 
agencies to obtain taxpayer identifying numbers (TINs) from all 
individuals and entities they do business with, and to furnish the TIN 
whenever a request for payment is submitted to Federal payment 
officials. A taxpayer identifying number can be either a Social 
Security Number or an Employer Identification Number. The Food and 
Nutrition Service will collect information using form FNS-711.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect taxpayer identify 
numbers from individuals and entities receiving payments directly from 
the agency under any of the various nutrition and nutrition education 
programs. The information will be collected at the time of program 
application and will only be collected once unless an entity renews its 
application or reapplies for program participation. If the information 
is not collected, FNS would be unable to include taxpayer identifying 
numbers with each certified request for payment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 800.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Other (At time of 
app.)
    Total Burden Hours: 66.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1942-A, Community Facility Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0015.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RUS) is a credit 
agency within the Rural Development (RD) mission area of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Community Programs Division of 
the RHS administers the Community Facilities program under 7 CFR Part 
1942, Subpart A. Rural Development provides loan and grant funds 
through the Community Facilities program to finance many types of 
projects varying in size and complexity, from large general hospitals 
to small fire trucks. The facilities financed are designed to promote 
the development of rural communities by providing the infrastructure 
necessary to attract residents and rural jobs.
    Need and Use of the Information: RHS' field offices will collect 
information from applicants/borrowers to determine applicant/borrower 
eligibility, project feasibility, and to ensure borrowers operate on a 
sound basis and use loan and grant funds for authorized purposes. 
Failure to collect proper information could result in improper 
determinations of eligibility, improper use of funds, and/or unsound 
loans.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,231.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 51,441.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Certification of Authority.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0074.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency that makes mortgage loans and loan guarantees to finance 
electric, telecommunications, and water and waste facilities in rural 
areas. Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq, as 
amended, (RE Act) gives authorization to the Secretary to make loans 
for rural electrification for the purpose of furnishing and improving 
electric and telephone service in rural areas. RUS will manage the loan 
programs as prescribed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circular A-129, Policies for Federal Credit Programs and Non-Tax 
Receivables, which states that agencies must, based on a review of a 
loan application, determine that an applicant complies with statutory, 
regulatory, and administrative eligibility requirements for loan 
assistance. A major factor in managing loan programs is controlling the 
advancement of funds. RUS Form 675, Certificate of Authority, allows 
this

[[Page 40899]]

control to be achieved by providing a list of authorized signatures 
against which signatures requesting funds are compared.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
ensure that only authorized representatives of the borrowers signs the 
lending requisition form. Without the information, RUS would not know 
if the request for a loan advance was legitimate or not and so the 
potential for waste, loss, unauthorized use, and misappropriation would 
be increased.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 625.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 63.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1717 Subpart Y, Settlement of Debt Owed by Electric 
Borrowers.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0116.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes 
mortgage loans and loan guarantees to electric systems to provide and 
improve electric service in rural areas pursuant to the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) (RE 
Act). Only those electric borrowers that are unable to fully repay 
their debts to the government and who apply to RUS for relief will be 
affected by this collection of information. The information collected 
will be similar to that which any prudent lender would require to 
determine whether debt settlement is required and the amount of relief 
that is needed.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine the need for debt settlement; the amount of debt the borrower 
can repay; the future scheduling of debt repayment; and, the range of 
opportunities for enhancing the amount of debt that can be recovered.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,000.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0121.
    Summary of Collection: The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act authorizes Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to make loans to public 
agencies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes for the development 
of water and waste disposal facilities primarily servicing rural 
residents with populations up to 10,000 residents. The reporting 
requirements to administer the Waste and Water Disposal Program relate 
to 7 CFR part 1780.
    Need and Use of the Information: Rural Development's field offices 
will collect information from applicants/borrowers and consultants to 
determine eligibility and project feasibility. The information will 
help to ensure borrowers operate on a sound basis and use loan funds 
for authorized purposes. There are agency forms required as well as 
other requirements that involve certifications from the borrower, 
lenders, and other parties. Failure to collect proper information could 
result in improper determinations of eligibility, use of funds and or 
unsound loans.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually; 
Recordkeeping.
    Total Burden Hours: 132,069.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Reporting Requirements Under Regulations Governing 
Inspection and Grading Services of Manufactured or Processed Dairy 
Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0126.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946 
(7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), directs and authorizes the Department to develop 
standards of quality, condition, quantity, grading programs, and 
services to enable a more orderly marketing of agricultural products. 
The Government, industry and consumer will be well served if the 
Government can help insure that dairy products are produced under 
sanitary conditions and that buyers have the choice of purchasing the 
quality of the product they desire. The dairy grading program is a 
voluntary user fee program. In order for a voluntary inspection program 
to perform satisfactorily with a minimum of confusion, information must 
be collected to determine what services are requested.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
to identify the product offered for grading, to identify and contact 
the individuals responsible for payment of the grading fee and to 
identify the person responsible for administering the grade label 
program. The Agriculture Marketing service will use forms to collect 
essential information to carry out and administer the inspection and 
grading program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 400.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 360.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Sweet Cherries Grown in Designated Counties in Washington, 
M.O. 923.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0214.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has 
the responsibility for the national commodity research and promotion 
programs. The Agriculture Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 was designed 
to permit regulation of certain agricultural commodities for the 
purpose of providing orderly marketing conditions in interstate 
commerce and improving returns to growers. The Market Order No. 923 
authorizes the issuance of grade, size, quality, maturity, pack, 
container, inspection and reporting requirements. The order authorizes 
the establishment of marketing research and development projects.
    Need and Use of the Information: Forms were developed as a 
convenience to persons who are required to file information with the 
Committee. Handlers or receivers desiring to ship or receive sweet 
cherries for grading or packing outside the production area must 
complete the application forms. This form is completed prior to 
receiving any production area sweet cherries each year. The handlers or 
receivers report all Washington sweet cherries shipped or received for 
grading or packing outside the production area.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 6.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 5.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Quality Control Review Schedule.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0299.
    Summary of Collection: States agencies are required to perform 
Quality Control (QC) review for the Food Stamp Program (FSP). The 
legislative basis for the operation of the QC system is provided by 
Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. The FNS-380-1, Quality 
Control Review Schedule is for State use to collect both QC data and 
case characteristics for the Food Stamp Program and to serve as the 
comprehensive data entry form for FSP QC reviews.

[[Page 40900]]

    Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) will collect information to monitor and reduce errors, develop 
policy strategies and analyze household characteristic data. In 
addition, FNS will use the data to determine sanctions and incentive 
based on error rate performance, and to estimate the impact of some 
program changes to FSP participation and costs by analyzing the 
available household characteristic data.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Weekly; Monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 58,729.

Sondra A. Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-17347 Filed 7-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M