[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63752-63755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28218]


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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. 217 / Monday, November 10, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 63752]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 4, 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 
Officer 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 
to having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 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.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    Title: Assurance of Compliance with the Department of Agriculture 
Regulations Assuring Civil Rights Compliance Organization Information.
    OMB Control Number: 0524-0026.
    Summary of Collection: The Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service (CSREES) has primary responsibility for providing 
linkages between the Federal and State components of a broad-based, 
national agricultural research, extension, and higher education system. 
Focused on national issues, its purpose is to represent the Secretary 
of Agriculture and the intent of Congress by administering formula and 
grant funds appropriated for agricultural research, extension, and 
higher education. Before awards can be made, certain information is 
required from applicant to assure compliance with the civil rights laws 
and to effectively assess the potential recipient's capacity to manage 
Federal funds. CSREES will collect information using forms CSREES 665, 
``Assurance of Compliance with the Department of Agriculture 
Regulations Assuring Civil Rights Compliance'' and CSREES 666, 
``Organizational Information.''
    Need and Use of the Information: CSREES will collect information to 
determine that applicants recommended for awards are responsible 
recipients of Federal funds and that applicant agrees they will offer 
programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, 
national origin, sex, disability, age, political beliefs, religion, 
marital status, or familial status. If the information were not 
collected, it would not be possible to determine that the prospective 
grantees are responsible and are complying with the Civil Rights Act.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; business 
or other for-profit; individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,020.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Regulation.
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0001.
    Summary of Collection: The Importation of most cheese made from 
cow's milk and certain non-cheese dairy articles (butter, dried milk, 
and butter substitutes) are subject to Tariff-rate Quotas (TRQs) and 
must be accompanied by an import license issue by the Department to 
enter at the lower tariff. Licenses are issued in accordance with the 
Department's Import Licensing Regulation (7 CFR part 6). Importers 
without licenses may enter these dairy articles, but are required to 
pay the higher tariff. The Department issues three types of licenses: 
Historical license (renewable), non-historical licenses (non-
renewable); and preferred cheese licenses issued to importers 
designated by the government of a foreign country. The Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) will collect information using several 
forms.
    Need and Use of the Information: FAS will use the information to 
assure that the intent of the legislation is correctly administered and 
to determine eligibility to obtain benefits under the Import 
Regulation. If the information were collected less frequently, FSA 
would be unable to issue licenses on an annual basis in compliance with 
the Import Regulation.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other-for-profit; 
individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 540.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping, reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden House: 426.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Phytosanitary Certificates for Imported Articles to Prevent 
Introduction of Potato Brown Rot.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0221.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture 
is responsible for preventing plant disease or insect pests from 
entering the United States, preventing the spread of pests and noxious 
weeds not widely distributed in the United State, and eradicating those 
imported pests when eradication is necessary. The Plant Protection Act 
authorizes the Department to carry out this mission. Also, the 
regulations in 7 CFR part 319 prohibit or restrict the importation of 
certain plants and plant products into the United States to prevent the 
introduction of plant pest. The Animal

[[Page 63753]]

Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) amended regulations to 
require a phytosanitary certificate to accompany articles of 
Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. imported into the United States, 
except those imported under the Canadian greenhouse restricted plant 
program. Recently, APHIS became aware that articles have Pelargonium 
spp. and Solanum spp. can serve as vectors for the transmission of 
potato brown rot. This bacterium is widely distributed in temperature 
areas of the world and could cause severe damage to U.S. production of 
potatoes, if it were to become established in the United States.
    Need and Use of the Information: A Phytosanitary Certificate is 
required from each foreign country for articles Pelargonium spp. and 
Solanum spp. offered for importation into the United States. The 
certificate must contain either a declaration that the production 
facility in which the articles were produced has been found free, by 
testing, of R. solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 or that R. solanacearum 
race 3 biovar 2 is not present in the region in which the articles were 
produced. If the information is not collected, potato fields could 
become infected with the strain of R. solanacearum and this could 
drastically reduce or eliminate potato fields.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,040.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 83,200.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Diet has a significant impact on the health 
of citizens and is linked to four leading causes of disease, which can 
reduce the quality of life and cause premature death. While these diet-
related problems affect all Americans, they have a greater impact on 
the disadvantaged populations reached by many of the Food and Nutrition 
Service (FNS) programs. One of FNS' goals includes improving the 
nutrition of children and low-income families by providing access to 
program benefits and nutrition education. The basis of FNS' approach 
rests on the philosophies that all health communications and social 
marketing activities must be science-based, theoretically grounded, 
audience-driven, and results-oriented. FNS will collect information 
through formative research methods that will include focus groups, 
interviews (dyad, triad, telephone, etc.), surveys and web-based 
information gathering tools. The formative research is essential to 
advancing ``Eat Smart Play Hard'' Campaign as well as other FNS 
nutrition education and outreach efforts.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to 
provide formative input and feedback on how bets to reach and motivate 
the targeted population. The collected information will provide input 
regarding the potential use of materials and products during both the 
developmental and testing stages. FNS will also collect information 
regarding effective nutrition education and outreach initiatives being 
implemented by State agencies that administer nutrition assistance 
programs to address critical nutrition program access issues.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Federal 
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 14,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one-time).
    Total Burden Hours: 5,100.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research/CNPP.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Center for Nutrition Policy and 
Promotion (CNPP) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is interested in 
conducting consumer research to identify key issues of concern related 
to understanding and use of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and 
the Food Guide Pyramid. The mission of CNPP is to improve the 
nutritional status of Americans by developing and promoting science-
based dietary guidance and economic information for the public. CNPP 
will be conducting a formative research with consumers to examine their 
understanding of the Dietary Guideline and Pyramid concepts and their 
use of and barriers to using both the Guidelines and the Pyramid. CNPP 
believes that obtaining qualitative information from consumer is 
fundamentally necessary for reassessing and revising the Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid. CNPP will collect 
information using focus groups, qualitative interviews, and Web-based 
surveys.
    Need and Use of the Information: CNPP will collect information to 
develop practical and meaningful food and nutrition guidance for 
Americans to help improve their diets. The information will also be 
used to expand the knowledge base concerning how the Dietary Guidelines 
for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations and messages 
are understood as well as how they can be used by consumers to improve 
diets while overcoming barriers.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Federal 
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 9,950.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (individual projects).
    Total Burden Hours: 3,379.

Forest Service

    Title: Objection to New Land Management Plans, Plan Amendments, and 
Plan Revisions.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0158.
    Summary of Collection: The current appeals process for land and 
resource management plans and regional guides is set forth in 36 CFR 
217.1-217.19 which provides an opportunity to challenge a Forest 
Service (FS) decision after the responsible official has made a final 
decision. A person objecting to a proposed or revised plan must file 
their objection in writing within 30 days of the publication, in a 
newspaper of record, with the reviewing. The objector must provide 
name, mailing address and telephone number; a statement of the 
information or decisions to which the person or organization objects; a 
description of the part or parts of the plan, plan amendment or plan 
revision being objected to; and a concise statement explaining why the 
responsible official's pending decision should not be adopted.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information gathered in the 
objection process will be analyzed and responded to be a Forest Service 
official and possibly used to modify the decision on land and resource 
management planning. Without the information, the Agency's decision 
making will suffer from reduced public input and Agency relationships 
with the public will deteriorate.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; business or 
other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,210.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,210.

Foreign Agricultural Service

    Title: CCC's Export Enhancement Program (EEP) and CCC's Dairy 
Export Incentive Program (DEIP).
    OMB Control Number: 0551-0028.
    Summary of Collection: The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) 
collects

[[Page 63754]]

information from U.S. exporters in order to determine the exporters' 
eligibility for the Export Enhancement Program (EEP) and the Dairy 
Export Incentive Program (DEIP). Information can be faxed in by program 
applicants or applicants may register over the Internet.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information collected from U.S. 
Exporters is used by FAS to determine whether an exporter has the 
experience necessary to perform under the proposed agreements. Other 
information is collected to determine compliance during the period of 
the agreement and to ensure that compensation in the appropriate amount 
is made. Without the application and related information, FAS would be 
unable to properly qualify U.S. Exporters for EEP and DEIP.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 26.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,803.

Economic Research Service

    Title: An Assessment of the Impact of Medicaid Managed Care on WIC 
Program Coordination with Primary Care Services.
    OMB Control Number: 0536-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Economic Research Service (ERS) has 
responsibility, as authorized in the Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act. 
Fiscal Year 2002 (Pub. L. 1-7-76) to conduct economic research on the 
operation of the Nation's food assistance programs, especially the Food 
Stamp Program, Child Nutrition Programs, and the Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The 
relationship between the WIC program and primary care services is an 
important component of the program. ERS is seeking detailed information 
that will determine the impact Medicaid managed care may have on the 
ability of WIC to coordinate services with primary care providers. The 
study will be conducted through telephone surveys and e-mail.
    Need and Use of the Information: ERS will collect information to 
understanding the impact of Medicaid managed care on the coordination 
between WIC and primary care services in a way that will be relevant to 
public policymakers. Data from the study can be used by FNS to assess 
how well existing program policies and procedures facilitate 
coordination and referral between WIC and Medicaid managed care.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; 
business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 210.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 132.

Forest Service

    Title: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment 2005.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0127.
    Summary of Collection: The National Survey on Recreation and the 
Environment (NSRE) 2005 will be the latest in a series of surveys 
conducted by the Forest Service (FS) which began in 1960 as the primary 
source of recreation data from the U.S. population. This information is 
vital for federal land managing agencies to obtain an understanding of 
the outdoor recreation participation levels and preferences of the 
American people so that effective policy making, planning, and 
decision-making can occur. Information from the survey is shared with 
and relied upon by organizations outside the federal government 
including educational institutions, private sector companies, state 
agencies, and other governmental organizations as the fundamental 
source of outdoor recreation trend and demand data on a national scale. 
The survey will be administered using a statistically valid sampling 
methodology through computer-assisted telephone interviewing 
techniques.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information 
nationally from the public to assess trends in recreation participation 
over the years and to estimate demand for outdoor recreation among the 
U.S. population. FS and other federal agencies will use the information 
to develop long-range strategic plans, adjust programs and activities 
to meet customer needs and expectations and better manage federally 
owned lands.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 16,666.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
    Total Burden Hours: 4,166.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: List Sampling Frame Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0140.
    Summary of Collection: The primary objective of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to provide data users with 
timely and reliable agricultural production and economic statistic, as 
well as environmental and specialty agricultural related statistics. To 
accomplish this objective, NASS relies heavily on the use of sample 
surveys statistically drawn from ``List Sampling Frame.'' The List 
Sampling Frame is a database of names and addresses, with control data, 
that contains the components from which these samples can be drawn.
    Need and Use of the Information: The List Sampling Frame is used to 
maintain a complete list of possible farm operations. The goal is to 
produce for each state a relatively complete, current, and unduplicated 
list of names to sample for agricultural operation surveys. Government 
agencies and educational institutions use the information from these 
surveys in planning, farm policy analysis, and program administration.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 350,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 22,500.

National Agriculture Statistics Service

    Title: Childhood Injury and Adult Occupational Injury Survey of 
Minority Farm Operators.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0235.
    Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS) is to prepare and issue state 
and national estimates of crop and livestock production under the 
authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). NASS will conduct a survey that will 
provide estimates of annual childhood and adult nonfatal injury 
incidence rates on minority farms, annual injury frequencies, and 
descriptive injury information for minority farm operators and their 
employees 20 years of age or older.
    Need and Use of the Information: The National Institute of 
Occupational Safety Health will use the data to develop injury 
prevention materials for minority farm operators and technical reports. 
The objective of this project is to develop a uniform inquiry for 
determining the incidence rate and characteristics of childhood 
agricultural and adult occupational injuries occurring on minority 
operated farms in the United States.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One-Time).
    Total Burden Hours: 12,093.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: Preloan Procedures and Requirements for Telecommunications 
Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0079.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a 
credit agency

[[Page 63755]]

of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It makes mortgage loans and loan 
guarantees to finance telecommunications, electric, water and waste 
facilities in rural areas. RUS manages loan programs in accordance with 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (RE Act) 
and has a loan portfolio that totals approximately $42 billion. Section 
201 of the RE Act authorizes the Administrator to make loans to 
qualified telephone companies for the purpose of providing telephone 
service to the widest practicable number of rural subscribers.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect information using 
several forms to determine an applicant's eligibility to borrow from 
RUS under the terms of the RE Act. The information is also used to 
determine that the Government's security for loans made by RUS are 
reasonably adequate and that the loans will be repaid within the time 
agreed. Without the information, RUS could not effectively monitor each 
borrower's compliance with the loan terms and conditions to properly 
ensure continued loan security.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,621.

Rural Utilities Service

    Title: 7 CFR Part 1778, Emergency and Imminent Community Water 
Assistance Grants.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0110.
    Summary of Collection: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is 
authorized under section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act, (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) to provide grants to rural areas 
and small communities to secure adequate quantities of safe water. 
Grants made under this program shall be made for 100 percent of the 
project cost can serve rural areas with population not in excess of 
5,000 and household income should not exceed 100 percent of a State's 
non-metropolitan medial household income. Grants under this program may 
be made to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations serving 
rural areas.
    Need and Use of the Information: RUS will collect the information 
from applicants applying for grants under 7 CFR part 1778. The 
information is unique to each borrower and emergency situation. 
Applicants must demonstrate that there is an imminent emergency or that 
a decline occurred within 2 years of the date the application was filed 
with Rural Development.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; not-
for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 400.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-28218 Filed 11-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M