[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59154-59159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25880]


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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. 198 / Tuesday, October 14, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 59154]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 8, 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 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: Pub. L. 480, Title I Financing and Record Keeping.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0005.
    Summary of Collection: The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is 
responsible for administering Public Law 480, Title I agreements, as 
amended. This regulation provides for the financing of sales of U.S. 
agricultural commodities to recipients of foreign countries or private 
entities. In accordance with the law, an agreement providing for long-
term credit financing is first negotiated with the recipient through 
diplomatic channels. After an agreement has been signed, the recipient 
applies to FAS for authorization to purchase each commodity provided in 
the agreement. At least 75 percent of the gross tonnage of commodities 
purchased under Title I must be shipped on privately owned U.S. flag 
commercial vessels to the extent such vessels are available at fair and 
reasonable rates. If ocean transportation is required to a country 
where there is no U.S. flag vessel coverage, a foreign vessel will be 
used at its prevailing rate. The recipient must send the pertinent 
terms of all proposed ocean freight contracts, regardless of whether 
any portion of the ocean freight is financed by CCC, to FAS for review 
and approval before the vessel is contracted.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will collect information to 
insure that (1) suppliers keep accurate records on Title I 
transactions; (2) suppliers permit access to authorized USDA 
representatives (such as auditors and investigators); and, (3) 
suppliers retain records for three years after final payment. FAS will 
review and evaluate the information to ensure that there are no 
potential conflicts of interests and ensure that the sales price is 
within the prevailing range of export market prices. Without the 
information, FAS could not ensure program compliance.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 25.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 47.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0097.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Foreign Investment 
Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires foreign investors to report to the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a timely manner all held, acquired, 
or transferred U.S. agricultural land. The Secretary of Agriculture has 
delegated authority for the collection of this information to the Farm 
Service Agency (FSA). Foreign investors may obtain form FSA-153, AFIDA 
Report, from their local FSA county office or from the FSA Internet 
site. Investors are required to file report within 90 days of the 
acquisition, transfer, or change in the use of their land.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected from the 
AFIDA Reports is used to monitor the effect of foreign investment upon 
family farms and rural communities and in the preparation of a 
voluntary report to Congress and the President. Congress reviews the 
report and decides if regulatory action is necessary to limit the 
amount of foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land. If this 
information was not collected, USDA could not effectively monitor 
foreign investment and the impact of such holdings upon family farms 
and rural communities.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 4,375.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 904.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Farm storage Facility Loan Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0204.
    Summary of Collection: 7 CFR 1436 authorizes the Farm Service 
Agency (FSA) to administer the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Farm 
Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFLP). The regulations provide terms 
and conditions in which CCC may provide low-cost financing for 
producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage and handling facilities. 
Producers requesting loans must provide information regarding the need 
for farm storage capacity and the storage facility they

[[Page 59155]]

propose to construct. The information is needed to determine if the 
farmer has a need for the proposed capacity and the proposed structure.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect information from 
producers to establish eligibility for the program and to determine 
that the structure proposed is not in conflict with local land use 
laws. The information is needed by CCC to make loans to farmers who 
have a bona fide storage need and to make loans that will be repaid on 
time. If the information is not collected, the producer may not receive 
the full benefits of the program.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 3,985.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Specimen Submission.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0090.
    Summary of Collection: Under the authority of Title 21, U.S.C., the 
Secretary of Agriculture is permitted to prevent, control and eliminate 
domestic diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as to take actions to 
prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as hog cholera, African 
swine fever, and other foreign diseases. The National Veterinary 
Services Laboratories cannot accomplish disease prevention without the 
existence of an effective disease surveillance program, which includes 
disease testing. Information is collected on each animal specimen 
submitted for analysis by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) using form VS 10-4, ``Specimen Submission''.
    Need and Use of the Information: The form VS 10-4 used by State or 
Federal veterinarians documents the collections and submissions of 
specimens for laboratory analysis. In addition, the form identifies the 
individual animal from which the specimen is taken as well as the 
animal's herd or flock; the type of specimen submitted, and the purpose 
of submitting the specimen. Without the information contained on this 
form, personnel at the National Veterinary Services laboratories would 
have no way of identifying or processing the specimens sent to them for 
analysis.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; 
Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 12,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 9,000.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: TB in Cattle and Bison, State Designations: California.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0220.
    Summary of Collection: Under the authority of Title 21, U.S.C., the 
Secretary of Agriculture is permitted to prevent, control and eliminate 
domestic diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as to take actions to 
prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as foot-and-mouth, 
rinderpest, and other foreign diseases. Disease prevention is the most 
effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and 
enhancing the ability of U.S. producers to compete in the global market 
of animal and animal product trade. An interim rule was published to 
remove California from the list of accredited free States and add it to 
the list of modified accredited advanced States. This action is to help 
prevent the spread of tuberculosis from California to other areas of 
the United States. Cattle moving interstate from California will need 
to be officially identified via premises of origin identification (ear 
tags).
    Needs and Use of the Information: Certain herd owners in California 
moving their cattle interstate will need to affix ear tags to these 
animals prior to movement. The ear tags will identify the animal to its 
herd of origin, and will be useful to the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service in the event that a trace-back investigation must be 
conducted. Without the information, it would be impossible to 
effectively monitor the interstate movement of cattle from California 
or to conduct a successful trace-back investigation if any animal is 
diagnosed with tuberculosis following interstate movement.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households.
    Number Respondents: 600.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 960.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: TB in Cattle and Bison, State Designations: New Mexico.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0229.
    Summary of Collection: Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious, 
infectious, and communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. It 
affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats, and other species, including 
humans. Bovine tuberculosis in infected animals and humans manifests 
itself in lesions of the lung, bone, and other body parts, causes 
weight loss and general debilitation, and can be fatal. Recently, two 
tuberculosis-infected herds were detected in New Mexico; an interim 
rule was published to remove New Mexico from the list of accredited-
free State to the list of modified accredited advanced states. The 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) took this action to 
help prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis from New Mexico to other 
areas of the United States. Authority for engaging in disease 
containment activities associated with tuberculosis is contained in 
Part 77 of Title 9, CFR.
    Need and Use of the Information: Certain herd owners in New Mexico 
moving their cattle interstate will need to affix ear tags to these 
animals prior to movement. The ear tags will identify the animal to its 
herd of origin and will be useful to APHIS in the event that a trace-
back investigation must be conducted. Without the information, it would 
be impossible to effectively monitor the interstate movement of cattle 
or bison from New Mexico or to conduct a successful trace-back 
investigation if any animal is diagnosed with tuberculosis following 
interstate movement.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 375
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion
    Total Burden Hours: 600.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

    Title: Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control 
Point (HACCP) Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0103.
    Summary of Collection: The Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 
U.S.C. 601) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 
451 mandate that the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) protect 
the public by ensuring the meat and poultry products are safe, 
wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS has 
begun to build the principle of prevention into its inspection program 
and requires regulated establishments to prepare operating plans and 
continuously report performance against the plans.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information will be collected from 
establishments as proof that standard operating plans have been 
developed. Additionally, information must be reported and pertinent 
records maintained on the occurrence and numbers of pathogenic 
microorganisms on meat and poultry products. FSIS will use this 
information during the inspection process to determine

[[Page 59156]]

whether an establishment should change its operating procedures so that 
the public's health is protected.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 8,114.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Other (daily).
    Total Burden Hours: 7,463,679.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Worksheet for Food Stamp Program Quality Control Reviews.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0074.
    Summary of Collection: State agencies are required to perform 
Quality Control Reviews for the Food Stamp Program in conjunction with 
section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. The food stamp worksheet 
(FNS-380) provides a systematic means of aiding the State agency's 
quality control reviewer in analyzing household case record; planning 
and carrying out the field investigations; and gathering, comparing, 
analyzing and evaluating the review data. Relevant information from the 
case record, and documentation about individual cases is recorded on 
the FNS-380.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) will use the information from the FNS-380 to record identifying 
information about the household and to also document and evaluate each 
step of the field investigation process to determine eligibility and 
payment amounts under FNS' approved State agency practices.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government; individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 519,679.

Forest Service

    Title: Youth Conservation Corps Application & Medical History 
Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0084.
    Summary of Collection: Under Pub. L. 93-408, the Youth Conservation 
Corps Act (YCC), the Forest Service provides seasonal employment for 
eligible youth 15 to 18 years old. As part of this effort, the Forest 
Service collects information from applicants to evaluate their 
eligibility for employment with the agency through the program. Each 
eligible youth, who wish to apply and be considered for employment in 
the YCC program must submit an application form (FS 1800-18). This is a 
seasonal program requiring new submission by applicants each year. 
Selected participants must complete the medical history form and their 
parent or guardian must sign. This is necessary to certify the youth's 
physical fitness to serve in the YCC program.
    Need and Use of the Information: All candidates interested in 
participating in the YCC program must complete an application. Those 
applicants, selected at random, complete the form FS 1800-3, Youth 
Conservation Corps Medical History, which provides information needed 
to determine certification of suitability, any special medical or 
medication needs, and a file record to protect both the Federal 
Government and individuals. If not used, the government's liability 
risk is high, special needs of one individual may not be known, or the 
screening of an applicant's physical suitability would be greatly 
inhibited.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 18,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 6,000.

Forest Service

    Title: Agreement to Initiate (ATI) and Exchange Agreement (EA)
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0105.
    Summary of Collection: Land exchanges are an important tool to 
consolidate landownership for purposes of more efficient management; to 
secure important Forest Plan objectives of resource management, 
enhancement, development, and protection; and to fulfill other public 
needs such as acquiring lands important for such resources as fisheries 
habitat, wild and scenic rivers, wildlife habitat, and wilderness. A 
land exchange is where the United States has identified either federal 
land or federal interest in land available for exchange and a non-
Federal party has identified either private land or private interest in 
land they are interested in exchanging. The primary authorities used to 
perform land exchanges involving National Forest Systems lands include 
the General Exchange Act, the Weeks Act, the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act and the Federal Land Exchange Facilitation Act.
    Need and use of the Information: The Forest Service (FS) will 
collect information by phone, in face-to-face meetings, or by mail. FS 
will also collect information such as the identification of the non-
Federal land exchange parties; the description of the lands and 
interests to be exchanged, such as roads; the identification of all 
reserve and outstanding interests, such as roads, minerals, and 
easements; and all other terms and conditions necessary to complete 
exchange. To not collect the information would mean the land exchange 
was dropped.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 200.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Honey Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0153.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue State and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production. General authority for these 
data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, section 
2204. Domestic honeybees are critical to the pollination of U.S. crops, 
especially fruits and vegetables. Africanized bees, parasites, 
diseases, and pesticides threaten the survival of bees. Programs are 
provided by federal, State and local governments to assist in the 
survival of bees and to encourage beekeepers to maintain bee colonies
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on 
the number of colonies, honey production, stocks, and prices. The 
survey will provide data needed by the Department and other government 
agencies to administer programs and to set trade quotas and tariffs. 
Without the information, the agricultural industry would not be aware 
of changes at the State and national level.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 7,041.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,096.

Rural Business Service

    Title: Intermediary Re-lending Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0021.
    Summary or Collection: The objective of the Intermediary Relending 
Program (IRP) is to improve community facilities and employment 
opportunities and increase economic activities in rural areas by 
financing business facilities and community development. This purpose 
is achieved through loans made by the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service (RBS) to intermediaries that establish programs for the purpose 
of providing loans to ultimate recipients for business facilities and 
community development. The Food Security Act of 1985 provides USDA with 
the authority to make loans to nonprofit entities who will in turn 
provide financial assistance

[[Page 59157]]

to rural businesses to improve business, industry and employment 
opportunities as well as provide a diversification of the economy in 
rural areas.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information requested is 
necessary for RBS to process applications in a responsible manner, make 
prudent credit and program decisions, and effectively monitor the 
intermediaries' activities to protect the Government's financial 
interest and ensure that funds obtained from the Government are used 
appropriately. Various forms are used to identify the intermediary, 
describe the intermediary's experience and expertise, describe how the 
intermediary will operate its revolving loan fund, provide for debt 
instruments, loan agreements, security, and other material necessary 
for prudent credit decisions and reasonable program monitoring.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; 
Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 160.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 16,930.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    Title: University Value-Added Research Grant.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0046.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) authorizes the Secretary of the Department of 
Agriculture to use $300,000 to support research at a university 
concerning the effects of projects for value-added agricultural 
commodities or products on agricultural producers and the commodity 
markets. The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) will administer 
this grant. RBS will collect information from applicants who must be an 
accredited university. The university may contract with other parties 
to contribute expertise or proprietary data that would not otherwise be 
available to the research effort.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will use the information to 
confirm that an applicant meets the eligibility requirements and that 
the research proposals are consistent with the purposes set forth in 
the statute. The information is also used to make a competitive 
evaluation and rank the proposals in order to determine the grant 
award. Information considered by the reviewers in ranking the proposals 
are (1) the nature of the proposed research, (2) qualifications of the 
researchers, (3) work plan and research budget and (4) measures to 
evaluate the effectiveness of value-added projects.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Quarterly; Semi-annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 479.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1721, Extensions of Payments of Principal and 
Interest.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0123.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is revising 
procedures and conditions under which borrowers may request extensions 
of the payment of principal and interest. RUS electric program provides 
loans and loan guarantees to borrowers at interest rates and on terms 
that are more favorable than those generally available from the private 
sector. As a result of obtaining federal financing, RUS borrowers 
receive economic benefits that exceed any direct economic costs 
associated with complying with (RUS) regulations and requirements. The 
authority, as amended, for these extensions is contained in Section 12 
of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, and section 236 of the 
``Disaster Relief Act of 1970.''
    Need and Use of the Information: The collection of information 
occurs only when the borrower requests an extension of principal and 
interest. Eligible purchases include financial hardship energy resource 
conservation loans, renewable energy project, and contributions-in-aid 
of construction. The collections are made to provide needed benefits to 
borrowers while also maintaining the integrity of RUS loans and their 
repayment of taxpayer's monies.
    Description of Respondents: Not for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 94.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 816.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1738, Rural Broadband Access.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0130.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) amended 
its regulation in order to establish the Rural Broadband Access Loan 
and Loan Guarantee Program. Title VI, Rural Broadband Access, amended 
The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE Act), to provide loans and 
loan guarantees to fund the cost of construction, improvement, or 
acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband 
service in eligible rural communities in State and territories of the 
United States. The regulation prescribes the types of loans available, 
facilities financed and eligible applicants, as well as minimum credit 
support requirements considered for a loan. In addition, Title VI of 
the RE Act requires that Rural Utilities Service (RUS) make or 
guarantee a loan only if there is reasonable assurance that the loan, 
together with all outstanding loans and obligations of the borrower, 
will be repaid in full within the time agreed.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information to 
determine whether an applicant's eligibility to borrow from RUS under 
the terms of the RE Act and that the applicant complies with statutory, 
regulatory and administrative eligibility requirements for loan 
assistance. RUS will use the information to determine that the 
Government's security for loans made are reasonable adequate and that 
the loans will be repaid within the time agreed.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 28,475.

Farm Service Agency

    Title: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0175.
    Summary of Collection: The collection of crop planting and 
production data is necessary for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) 
to calculate the producer's approved yield on the basis of actual 
production history. Information collection relative to the occurrence 
of crop damage or loss production and application for Noninsured Crop 
Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is necessary for CCC to accept and 
consider a request for assistance under NAP and to facilitate 
eligibility determinations. NAP provides eligible producers of eligible 
crops with protection to the catastrophic risk protection plan of crop 
insurance. It helps reduce production risks faced by producers of crops 
for which Federal crop insurance is not available. It also reduces 
financial losses that occur when natural disasters cause a catastrophic 
loss of production or prevented planting of an eligible crop. The Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) will collect information using several forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSA will collect the producer's 
name, address identification number, farm and tract, acreage, 
ownership, location, crop history, planted acreage, production, yield, 
share, etc. The information will be used to identify eligible NAP

[[Page 59158]]

participants, acreage and location, crop and commodities. If 
information is not collected, FSA will not be able to identify and 
determine eligible participants and crops being planted or produced, or 
provide assistance to agricultural producers who as a result of natural 
disaster have suffered catastrophic losses of agricultural crops or 
commodities.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or household; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; State, local or 
tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 291,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Weekly; Monthly; Other (bi-weekly and bi-monthly); Third party 
disclosure.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,143,562.

Agricultural Research Service

    Title: Peer Review Related Forms for the Office of Scientific 
Quality Review.
    OMB Control Number: 0518-0028.
    Summary of Collection: The Office of Scientific Quality Review 
(OSQR) is an organizational unit of the Agricultural Research Service 
(ARS) reporting to the Associate Administrator with primary 
responsibility for planning and facilitating high quality scientific 
and technical peer review of all agency prospective research project 
plans. The Research Title of the 1998 Farm Bill, Pub. L. 105-185 
section 103(d), set forth new requirements for peer reviews of ARS 
research projects. ARS must obtain panel peer reviews of each research 
project at least once every five years.
    Need and Use of the Information: ARS will collect the following 
information: Confidentiality agreement, panelist information, peer 
review of an ARS research project, critique of ARS research project, 
panelist expense report, and panelist invoice. The information is used 
to manage the travel and stipend payments to panel reviewers and 
provide well-organized feedback to ARS's researchers about their 
projects. If information were not collected, ARS would not meet the 
administrative or legislative requirements of the Peer Review Process 
as mandated by Public Law 105-185.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; Business 
or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Farms; Federal 
Government; State, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 135.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Weekly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,407.

Rural Housing Service

    Title: 7 CFR 1956-C, Debt Settlement--Community and Business 
Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0124.
    Summary of Collection: Rural Housing Service (RHS) is a credit 
agencies for agricultural and rural development for the United States 
Department of Agriculture and offers supervised credit to develop 
improve and operate family farms, modest housing, essential community 
facilities, and business and industry across rural America. 7 CFR 1956-
C, Debt Settlement--Community and Business Programs provides policies 
and procedures as well as a mechanism for debt settlement in connection 
with Community Facilities loans and grants, Water and Waste Disposal 
loans, direct Business and Industry loans, Indian Tribal Land 
Acquisition loans and Irrigation and Drainage. The debt settlement 
program provides the delinquent client with an equitable tool for the 
compromise, adjustment, cancellation, or charge-off of a debt owed to 
the Agency.
    Need and Use of the Information: The field offices will collect 
information from applicants, borrowers consultants, lenders, and 
attorneys to determine eligibility, financial capacity and derive an 
equitable resolution. This information collected is similar to that 
required by a commercial lender in similar circumstances. Failure to 
collect the information could result in improper servicing of these 
loans.
    Description of Respondents: Not for profit institutions; 
Individuals, Households; Business or other for-profit; State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 813.

Rural Business--Cooperative Service

    Title: CFG 1942-G, ``Rural business Enterprise Grants and 
Television Demonstration Grants''.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0022.
    Summary of Collection: Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act authorizes Rural Business Enterprise Grants to 
facilitate the development of small and emerging private businesses, 
industry and related employment for improving the economy in rural 
communities. Television Demonstration Grants (TDG) are available to 
statewide, private nonprofit, public television systems to provide 
information on agriculture and other issues of importance to farmers 
and other rural residents. This regulation, 7 CFR Part 1942-G, Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) that covers the administration of 
this program including eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria 
to make funding selection decisions.
    Need and Use of the Information: RBS will use this information to 
determine (1) eligibility; (2) the specific purposes for which grant 
funds will be utilized; (3) time frames or dates by which actions 
surrounding the use of funds will be accomplished; (4) who will be 
carrying out the purposes for which the grant is made; (5) project 
priority; (6) applicants experience in administering a rural economic 
development program; (7) employment improvement; and (8) mitigation of 
economic distress of a community through the creation or salvation of 
jobs or emergency situations. If the information were not collected, 
RBS would not be able to determine the eligibility of applicant(s) for 
the authorized purposes. Collecting this information infrequently would 
have an advertise effect on the Agency's ability to administer the 
grant program.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Farms; 
Business or other for profit; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 720.
    Frequency of Responses: Record-keeping; Reporting: Monthly; On 
Occasion; Quarterly.
    Total Burden Hours: 22,395.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Tuberculosis Testing for Imported Cattle.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0224.
    Summary of Collection: Under the authority of Title 21, U.S.C., the 
Secretary of Agriculture is permitted to prevent, control and eliminate 
domestic diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as to take actions to 
prevent and to manage exotic diseases such as foot-and-mouth, 
rinderpest, and other foreign diseases. Disease prevention is the most 
effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and 
enhancing the ability of U.S. producers to compete in the global market 
of animal and animal product trade. The Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) published an interim rule that added 
additional requirements concerning the importation of certain cattle 
into the United States. APHIS will collect information using form VS 
17-129, ``Application for Import or In Transit Permit.''
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information 
from the permit application regarding the type, number, and 
identification of the

[[Page 59159]]

animals to be exported to the United States, as well as information 
concerning the origin, intended date and location of arrival, routes of 
travel, and destination of the animals. APHIS will also collect 
information that certified that the herd in which the cattle was born 
and raised has tested TB-negative to a whole herd test. Failure to 
collect this information would make it impossible for APHIS to 
effectively evaluate the TB risks associated with cattle importation 
from Mexico, thereby increasing the likelihood that healthy cattle and 
bison throughout the United states will be exposed to tuberculosis.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 15,000.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

    Title: Registration Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: This information collection requests new 
burden hours for regulatory reporting requirements associated with the 
registration of meat brokers, poultry products brokers, renders, animal 
food manufactures, wholesalers, warehousemen, and persons that engage 
in the business of buying, selling, transporting in commerce, or 
importing, any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry, 
or parts of the carcasses of livestock or poultry that have died 
otherwise than by slaughter. The Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of 
the Secretary as provided in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) FSIS will collect information using FSIS Form 5020-
1, ``Registration of Meat and Poultry Handlers''.
    Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information 
using FSIS 5020-1, ensuring that all meat and poultry establishments 
produce safe, wholesome, and unadulterated product, and properly 
labeled and packaged. If the information were not collected, it would 
reduce the effectiveness of the meat and poultry inspection program.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 9,125.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Other (Once).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,521.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-25880 Filed 10-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M